Tyndale's Testament

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes: 

In 1526 a book - smuggled into England from the continent - was considered so dangerous that the Bishop of London had as many copies as he could find burnt - in St Paul’s churchyard where I’m standing. 

The book was the New Testament, translated into English by William Tyndale – His work was to cost him his life – but 12 years after the Bishop’s bonfire Thomas Cromwell ordered a copy of the Bible in English to be placed in every parish church in the land.

Today we give thanks for the life and work of Tyndale and for the riches he bequeathed to us. 

Almighty God, who guided the Magi by a star,

Guide us, by the light shone on your Word by generations of biblical translators and scholars. 

Bless us with their commitment to draw near to you in worship; 

Bless us with their perseverance in the face of opposition; 

Bless us with their willingness to lay our gifts at your feet. 

Amen 

Hymn - As with Gladness, men of old –Choir of St Martin in the Fields. The Complete New English Hymnal, The Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, Volume Fourteen 

William Tyndale was born in Gloucestershire in around 1494. He was a priest and scholar, a brilliant linguist who famously vowed to “cause the boy who drives the plough” to know more of the scriptures than the powerful and learned.

But England in the 1520s was a dangerous place for the work of translation. Diarmaid Macculloch is Emeritus Professor of the history of the church at Oxford University

Interview with Professor Diarmaid Maculloch on why translating the Bible into English was so dangerous, how Tyndale died, and Thomas Cromwell’s role in ensuring a copy of the Bible in English was placed in every parish church.

Miranda: I’m climbing up the geometric staircase in St Pauls cathedral with Dr Paula Gooder who is the Canon Chancellor at St Pauls and we’re heading to Wren’s historic library which holds St Pauls greatest treasure, the Tyndale translation of the New Testament.

Interview with Canon Dr Paula Gooder about the cathedral’s copy of Tyndale’s New Testament and his genius for translation.

Music - Purge me O Lord – Thomas Tallis, performed by the Tallis Scholars, Peter Phillips. Album title. The Tallis scholars sing Thomas Tallis. 

Reading: 1 Corinthians 13 

Miranda: England’s great sixteenth century composers rose to the challenge of setting the Bible in English to music.

Music: William Byrd’s setting of part of Psalm 117. Praise our Lord all ye Gentiles.

There will be events up and down the country this year, marking the anniversary of Tyndale’s translation. But one Cheshire town has already stolen a march on the celebrations, As part of its annual festival, Churches Together in Lymm organised a Tyndale 500 programme, showcasing the Bible through readings exhibitions and the performing arts. 

Simon Fawcett is chair of churches together in Lymm. 

Interview with Simon Fawcett about the Lymm festival’s celebration of Tyndale, and with actor Martin Buchan about how to read the Scriptures.

Reading - John 4 5-14 

MUSIC – verse 2 of I heard the voice of Jesus say. Daily Service Singers 

Miranda: Often in a Sunday worship the gospel will be followed by a sermon. But in the spirit of Tyndale who put the scriptures into our hands in our own language I’m here with the some of the people of Lymm to consider what this passage might mean to us today.

Music. Choir of the New Apostolic Church, Cape Town 

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet. 

Let us Pray. 

Almighty God, we thank you for revealing yourself to your world, in the beauty of creation, in the incarnation of your Son Jesus, and in the witness of the Holy Scriptures.

We thank you for all those who in countless generations have passed on the scriptures to us. We thank you for the skills of translators and scholars; of readers, preachers, composers and lyricists; and for all those involved in the printing and distribution of Bibles throughout the world. 

We pray for those who risk danger simply by owning a Bible, or by challenging those who seek to enforce one reading of it. We pray for all those who are persecuted for their faith; and for a world in which your peace, love and justice may prevail. 

We pray that you will continually open our hearts and minds to the transforming power of your word; that we may see you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly day by day. 

AND 

Our Father

Who art in heaven

Hallowed be your name

Your kingdom come, your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses 

as we forgive those that trespass against us 

And lead us not into temptation 

but deliver us from evil 

For thine is the kingdom, 

the power and the glory 

for ever and ever, Amen

Blessing

Closing music. Thou whose Almighty Word , from Christmas Oratorio by Bob Chilcott. 

Choir of Merton College, Oxford. Delphian Records