After nearly half a millennium, the primary complete translation of the Bible into the Welsh language made it to Wales for the primary time, allowing the general public to see what one bishop called “a special treasure.”
Bishop William Morgan translated the book in 1588 to assist people read and understand Scripture in their very own language. The book has been in Westminster Abbey’s Library collection ever because the bishop presented the abbey with a replica of the then-newly printed Bible.
On Monday, Westminster Abbey announced that the Bible could be presented and discussed on the conference of the Cathedral Archives, Libraries and Collections Association on Tuesday before occurring display at St Davids Cathedral in Wales.
The abbey loaned the leather-bound Bible to St Davids Cathedral, where the general public may have the chance to see it until July 9.
“The copy of the Welsh Bible presented to Westminster Abbey Library by Bishop William Morgan in 1588 reminds us of the essential role of learning within the lifetime of the Church and of the wealthy collections of printed books and manuscripts which have been cared for and studied over the centuries within the libraries of our cathedrals and collegiate churches,” Tony Trowles, head of the Abbey Collection, stated.
“It has been a fantastic pleasure to work with colleagues on the Cathedral to facilitate the loan of this Bible in order that it could be seen and appreciated in Wales for the primary time,” Trowles continued.
Bishop Morgan had been commissioned to provide a typical Welsh edition by drawing from and bringing together previous translations of the Bible. Morgan stayed in London to oversee the printing technique of the book, staying on the Deanery of Westminster Abbey during this time.
Gabriel Goodman, the dean of Westminster, was a friend of Morgan and was also a fellow Welshman. On the book’s title page, Morgan wrote an inscription to Goodman in Latin, recording the item as a present to the library.
The Bible has only ever been utilized in service once at St Benet Paul’s Wharf in 1988, the BBC reports. The church relies in London, and, in accordance with its website, the church’s services are primarily in Welsh.
According to Trowles, the Bible has never before been taken to Wales until now.
“It is in remarkably good condition. The plan was to print 900 copies, with the concept for each chapel and church in Wales to have a replica of the Welsh Bible,” the pinnacle of the Westminster Abbey collection said in a press release shared by the BBC. “Because they were used weekly and even each day, those that survive in Wales usually are not in such good condition.”
The Abbey library originally chained the Bible to the bookshelves to forestall people from removing it, in accordance with Trowles.
The Bishop of St Davids, the Rt Rev Dorrien Davies, told BBC the Bible is “a special treasure of the Welsh language.” Davies added that St Davids Cathedral is “honoured” to display the primary complete translation of the Bible into the Welsh language.
“It seems fitting that its first visit to Wales needs to be here, to the house of our patron saint, at our spiritual heart,” the Very Rev Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, the dean of St Davids, said in a press release this week.
“We stay up for having it on show before its return to the abbey, to share with Welsh Christians of all traditions, for whom Y Beibl Cyssegr-Lan of 1588 Bible is a uniquely helpful treasure in our heritage of religion and language,” Jones concluded.
