The Power of the Printed Word: Tyndale’s New Testament 1526 – 2026

Written in plain and clear English, Tyndale’s New Testament was a milestone not only in the history of the English Bible but in the development of the English language itself. Around 3,000 copies were printed in 1526, bringing the Bible to people in their own language for the first time.

At the time, publishing the Bible in English was illegal. The books were smuggled into England and read in secret, and owning one could be dangerous. The authorities saw the book as a threat to the power of the Church, and those who owned or handled the books faced persecution. Tyndale himself was executed in 1536. Yet his words endured, surviving in later editions of the Bible and giving rise to phrases still used in English today.

Almost all the copies printed in 1526 were seized and burned; only three are known to survive. They stand as powerful reminders of both the transformative power of the printed word and the risks once taken to read it.

The display is a unique opportunity to see the Library’s copy of the 1526 New Testament alongside other rare printed books and manuscripts from the period, including Anne Boleyn’s copy of the 1534 edition of Tyndale’s New Testament and Henry VIII’s copy of the Great Bible.

This is a four-case display in our Treasures Gallery.