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"See” and “Hear” the Word of God: The Grand Opening of the “1568 Bishop's Bible Leaves” Exhibition at USJ’s Library

2025-05-21

21

May

21/05/2025

The exhibition features a total of five beautifully preserved leaves from the 1568 Bishop’s Bible, an extraordinary collection that holds significant historical, religious, and cultural value.



The University of Saint Joseph’s (USJ) Library is thrilled to announce the grand opening ceremony of the first-ever showcase of the 1568 Bishop’s Bible leaves, an extraordinary collection that holds significant historical, religious, and cultural value. The ceremony took place on 19 May at the Lo Library in the Ilha Verde Campus and was attended by USJ staff members, students, and guests from other churches, associations and universities.

The Rector of USJ, Rev’d Professor Stephen Morgan, who is also the donor of the artifacts in this exhibition, delivered the opening address and revealed the 5 pages of treasured 16th-century Bible leaves for the exhibition. “These Bible leaves”, as he stated, “are a witness to a commitment to translating the Holy Scriptures so that the Word of God could be understood by everyone in every language”. The Rector also made reference to Saint Jerome, who first translated the Bible into Latin in the late 4th century, and expressed a passion for promoting innovative resources by commending credit to the production of the OTTOSonic soundscape effect, which miraculously brings back an ancient voice of early Modern English.

Prof. Priscilla Roberts, who featured on the soundtrack for the production of the immersive soundscape effect, explained that, “some of the English words printed in the texts were no longer used nowadays, therefore, I have to be very careful in preparing the script, so that I can replicate the sound of this ancient texts being as real as possible.” Professor Priscilla Roberts is the Head of the Department of History and Heritage at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of USJ.

Mr. Antonio Wong, curator of the exhibition, said, “it is such an extraordinary occasion that we are able to immerse the exhibition with the existing project on immersive literacy. By enlivening the voice of early modern English into the ears of our participants, we are literally experiencing what the Psalmist says about the goodness of the Lord: Let us “taste” and “see” this 16th-century English Bible with a humble heart and a vibrant spirit.”

The exhibition is open to the public with free admission until 20 June, 2025. It can also be accessed virtually via the USJ Library Portal. We encourage residents and tourists alike to join us in this remarkable Bible reading and learning experience. A general tour guide will be conducted upon request. For registration, please contact our librarian, Mr. Antonio Wong (Antonio.wong@usj.edu.mo) or +853 8592 5629.

The 1568 Bishop’s Bible

The exhibition presents 5 distinct pages from the early edition of the 1568 Bishop’s Bible. The 1568 Bishop’s Bible was one of the earliest Royal recognised print Bibles during the Tudor England. Printed in folio size with a dedication to Queen Elizabeth, the Bishop’s Bible was produced under the direction of Matthew Parker, who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The 1568 edition of the Bishop’s Bible represents not only a crucial development in the history of English-language scriptures but is also particularly notable for its wide-ranging influence on later translations, including the King James (authorised) Version.

Both as chained Bibles that used to be placed at major churches for public readings, it’s important to recognise the different intentions behind the production of the Bishop’s Bible and its predecessor, the 1539 Great Bible. The 1539 Great Bible was the first authorised English Bible and held a crucial role in representing the authority of King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England. Whereas the 1568 Bishop’s Bible was a reaction to the popularised Geneva Bible, with the ambitious motif of providing a translation which is more in line with the theological priorities of the Church of England. The Bishop’s Bible was used at church services and was the translation favoured by the Church of England until the King James (authorised) Version was published in 1611.

The exhibition features a total of five beautifully preserved leaves from the 1568 Bishop’s Bible, showcasing its intricate artistry and the text’s notable features. Additionally, visitors will have the chance to explore educational panels that offer deeper insights into the context of the period, the translation process, and the Bible’s enduring legacy.