The London landmark will commemorate 500 years of William Tyndale’s New Testament translation with an exhibition opening in the summer.
A Dangerous Calling: 500 Years of William Tyndale’s New Testament will open from 5th June until 27th February 2027 and will run alongside a programme of events.
The exhibition will provide visitors with the opportunity to see a first edition of Tyndale’s translation up close in the library. A digital version will allow visitors to explore the pages more closely on the Cathedral floor, seeing how the text transformed England by giving all people the chance to read the word of God.
Alongside the exhibition, on 28th April, Diarmaid MacCulloch will host a lecture on the significance of Tyndale’s translation for the English reformation. A talk with Charlotte Gauthier will take place on 7th June, focusing on Cardinal Wolsey’s attempt to keep Tyndale’s translation out of England.
About William Tyndale’s New Testament
In 1526, Tyndale’s first New Testament was printed in Europe and smuggled into England in bales of cloth at a time when translating the Bible into English without Church approval was a crime.
Many copies of the banned Bible were burned under instruction from the authorities; however, some survive to this day with the library of St Paul’s holding one of the three copies of Tyndale’s first edition.
Commenting on the exhibition, the dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Very Revd Andrew Tremlett, said: “William Tyndale’s New Testament is a work of huge significance in the Reformation history of England and the 500th anniversary of its publication provides a moment to reflect on the suffering he endured to ensure men and women throughout England could read the Word of God in their own language.
“It is a privilege to hold a copy within the library of St Paul’s, and we are delighted to share this first edition, measuring just inches, with visitors at our new exhibition opening this summer. The Cathedral is honoured to mark this momentous occasion in Christian history, as St Paul’s stands as a symbol of faith, hope, and love in the heart of London.”
Private group tours
Groups of up to 20 will be able to book an exclusive hour-long tour, taking them into the Triforium, the attic area of St Paul’s Cathedral, via the geometric staircase which featured in the Harry Potter films.
As they ascend the stairs, groups will see secret spaces designed by Sir Christopher Wren, including above the nave to the library, where the exhibition featuring the copy of William Tyndale’s New Testament will take place.
The tour will explore the trophy room filled with medieval artefacts and conclude with a view down the nave from above the great west doors.
For more information on group visits to St Paul’s Cathedral, visit www.stpauls.co.uk/group-visits.
