Cromwell and the English Bible

The title page, designed by Holbein, shows Henry VIII brandishing the Sword of Justice in one hand, and giving the Word of God to his bishops with the other. The work is dedicated to Henry saying

‘He only under God is the Chief Head of all the congregation of the Church’.

Coverdale was now free to return to England, where he arranged a further printing of his New Testament, bound together with a copy of the Vulgate.

On 5^th September 1538 Cromwell, as the King’s Vicegerent in Spirituals, ordered that the Bible be available in all churches by All Saints’ day (1^st November), although, in the event, the new translation was delayed.

The resulting tome was known as ‘The Great Bible’ not for its brilliance, but for its size – it was to be of a size to be read and consulted by every parishioner.

This article is part of a Profile on Thomas Cromwell available for Kindle, for purchase from Amazon.