In Monday’s assembly, we were privileged to welcome David and Eva Smith, curators of the Museum of the Book, to talk about the 500th anniversary this year of the first bible to be published in English by William Tyndale in 1526. He was the first to translate the New Testament into English directly from the original Greek, producing a Tyndale New Testament that has influenced every major bible translation that followed. His clear and memorable English style became the foundation for subsequent English translations, and his influences can be seen throughout the King James Bible (1611) and also in the English language more generally.
David also recounted how other famous Christians such as Florence Nightingale and William Wilberforce – two of our school houses – had used their faith to inspire causes and changes that proved decisive and long-lasting. In Florence Nightingale’s case, this included mandating the washing of hands by medical staff to prevent the spread of disease amongst wounded soldiers in their care in the hospitals of the Crimean War. And in William Wilberforce’s case, his faith underpinned his commitment to using his parliamentary influence to seek and achieve over a period of 20 years the formal legal abolition of slavery.
Pupils were also able to examine original versions of Wilberforce’s bible and an original New Testament given to a soldier by Florence Nightingale as well as examples of shackles and chains that slaves and plantation workers were forced to wear. A truly memorable and thought-provoking experience.
