This year, St Paul’s Cathedral in London is commemorating the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s New Testament translation with a new exhibition opening alongside a diverse programme of engaging events throughout the year.

William Tyndale’s New Testament (photo credit: Graham Lacdao / St Paul’s Cathedral)

The exhibition, A dangerous calling: 500 Years of William Tyndale’s New Testament, which will be open to the public until 27th February 2027, tells the extraordinary story of one of the smallest, yet most revolutionary books in English history, 500 years on from its publication.

The exhibition provides a rare opportunity for visitors to see a first edition of Tyndale’s translation up close in the Library, and will be accompanied by a year of events, tours, and interactive experiences, to engage visitors in the history of the translation and its enduring impact on the English language.

A newly digitised version of the Tyndale New Testament will provide visitors to the cathedral with the opportunity to explore the pages of the translation more closely.

William Tyndale’s New Testament (photo credit: Graham Lacdao / St Paul’s Cathedral)

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 enduring copies of Tyndale’s first edition. 

At the exhibition visitors can see how this once forbidden text transformed England by giving all people ‘from princes to ploughboys’ the chance to experience first-hand the word of God.

St Paul’s Cathedral

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. 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.”

If you or your group would like to visit the exhibition at St Paul’s Cathedral on a tailor-made tour of London, or perhaps as part of a Pilgrimage or Religious Tour in the United Kingdom or Ireland, please do contact our friendly team today.