The outlaw who put the Bible in our hands

This article was expanded from an original piece by guest author Simon Fawcett

Five hundred years ago, owning an English Bible could cost you your life.

It seems unthinkable in modern Britain, but in William Tyndale’s day, translating the scriptures into the language of ordinary people was a crime. Anyone caught with an English Bible risked prison, exile, or even the stake.

And yet, one man dared. His determination to give “every ploughboy” the chance to read God’s word in his own tongue was an act of breathtaking courage.

Who was he?

William Tyndale wasn’t just a courageous preacher — he was a brilliant linguist, fluent in eight languages. He worked to produce the first ever English New Testament directly from Greek, completing this in 1525. It wasn’t legal to publish it in England, so he fled to the continent, moving between Germany and the Low Countries, always keeping one step ahead of the King’s authorities.

Copies of his New Testament were smuggled back into England hidden in sacks of flour in 1526. For ordinary people, this was the first time they had the scriptures in their own tongue. Literacy was low but most communities had someone who could read English aloud. Imagine their astonishment – the word of God formerly reserved to scholars and clerics, now in their own language.

The powers that be … by the skin of your teeth … let there be light … the signs of the times … fight the good fight … eat, drink and be merry … all came to us from Tyndale …

… Shakespeare often gets the credit, but these were Tyndale’s.

Eventually, he was tricked into leaving a safe house, arrested, and imprisoned. In 1536, he was executed. He was strangled at the stake and then burned. His final words were a prayer:  “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes”.

Within just a few years, that prayer was answered. Henry VIII authorised an English Bible, largely based on Tyndale’s work.  Tyndale’s bold vision that: “I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scripture than thou dost” … was fulfilled.

What we did … and what your church can do

It was this extraordinary story that inspired Churches Together in my town, Lymm, to create a festival event unlike anything the village had seen before. With 2025 marking the 500th anniversary of Tyndale’s translation, our churches knew we could not let the moment pass.

We created “Tyndale500”, a ten-day program built around a public reading of scripture. Volunteers read aloud stories from the Old Testament, and the entire New Testament, in sessions punctuated with ticketed events including music, drama, dance, even a biblical poetry slam, with nationally recognised theatre companies and artists. Perhaps surprisingly, the best attended, sell-out event, was a lecture on the life of Tyndale by a Tyndale scholar —  who happens to belong to one of our churches.

I invited my non-Christian school friend – they came!

A striking exhibition took visitors into Tyndale’s world and the wider history of Bible translation, as well as explaining what the Bible is, where it came from, and who wrote it. Visitors could explore Tyndale’s life, the dangers he faced, the legacy he left behind. A “Discover More” section offered free Bibles, invitations to Alpha, and screenings of The Chosen.

And thanks to artificial intelligence, our “Ask William” AI-bot brought Tyndale’s world to life – allowing people to pose questions to a digital Tyndale about his life, his work, and his world. (Ask William is available online, free– see below).

The exhibition was amazing – so professional

A village mobilised

The scale of the project was immense. More than 100 volunteers from the local churches rolled up their sleeves, covering everything from readings and catering to security and tech support. A local actor trained our readers, who took turns in triplets for one-hour reading sessions. Visitors were encouraged to grab a drink, sit quietly, and absorb the words of scripture.

Behind the scenes, prayer teams underpinned the programme. Volunteers spoke of how transformative the experience was – not just spiritually, but in the sense of unity it created across denominational lines.

What an unexpected blessing of greater unity among churches through serving together …  I’m delighted that my church family has grown!

For many, the impact was deeply personal. One reader, unused to public speaking, described the experience as “life-changing.”

A youth leader reported how deeply his young people were moved by one of the theatre presentations.

Scripture in the spotlight

The event was both a discovery of scripture and a celebration of scripture. “Our objective was to celebrate Tyndale’s amazing anniversary, put scripture on the map in Lymm, and invite the thousands who attend the annual Lymm Festival to celebrate with us,” explained Simon Fawcett, Chair of Churches Together. The response exceeded expectations. Hundreds attended, more than 50 Bibles were taken home, and almost 30 people have started attending weekly viewings of The Chosen.

I plucked up the courage to invite her. She came …. & then … said yes to a Bible!

The blend of professional performances and grassroots involvement gave the programme a distinctive character. The public readings brought scripture alive, while the drama, music, dance and poetry created entry points for people of all backgrounds.

Carrying the baton

Tyndale500 has given Churches Together in Lymm a new identity as a community passionate about scripture and eager to share it. Other churches in Warrington have also since launched their own public scripture readings, inspired by the Lymm project.

We were incredibly worried about how it would all work… but God worked

But here’s the big news: next year — 2026 — marks 500 years since Tyndale’s printed New Testament first appeared in England. 2026 is another big moment to celebrate 500 years of the English Bible.

So the question to you: what would you risk to share the Bible today?

Could your church open the doors, read Scripture aloud, create an exhibition, or host an event?

The story of what we did — along with the exhibition, programme materials, signage, and AI William — is still with us, and we’re happy to advise or guide  any other church that wants to celebrate the Bible in 2026, and use it as a means to introduce people to scripture.

Why not use 2026 as a fresh opportunity to celebrate — and discover – scripture in your church or town?

It was an honour to hear the Word of God read book by book.  I was in awe

Anyone considering a similar event for the 500-year anniversary in 2026 is welcome to contact the author via simon.e.fawcett@gmail.com for advice or guidance.

Ask William — an AI bot trained on a library of material from Tyndale can be accessed, for free, via a typing interface or, subject to usage limits, by voice (click and start talking). 

The organisers want to acknowledge the generous sponsorship of The Baptist Insurance Company.

This article is based on an original piece by Simon Fawcett, first published by the Baptist Times.

Watch a brief interview on Tyndale500 from TWR Radio