The Bible will be read through, day and night, in Hereford Cathedral in May.  Starting on Wednesday 11 May, and finishing at a Service of Thanksgiving on the afternoon of Sunday 15 May, the whole Bible will be read aloud.

Canon Chris Pullin, who is organising the read through, said, 'We want this to be a whole community event, with lots of people taking part.  The Bible belongs to all of us, and we hope that many people will drop by to see and hear what is going on.  All the parishes in the Hereford diocese have been contacted, and all the churches in Hereford, and schools too.  It will be a marathon, but really worthwhile.'  The read through will begin and end with the King James translation, but in-between will use the New Revised Standard Version.  Canon Pullin said, 'It will take over 90 hours using a modern translation.  I've been warned by people who've done it that using the King James version will take much longer than that because most people aren't used to coping with 17th century English, so read more slowly!'

2011 sees a double anniversary celebration at Hereford Cathedral.  1611 was the year when the cathedral's world famous chained library was set up.  it was also the year when the King James Bible, 'the book that changed the world', was published.  Miles Smith, a native Herefordian and one of the canons at the cathedral, was one of its chief translators.  The read through and the Service of Thanksgiving will celebrate all of that.

People who are interested in reading or supporting the event in other ways are asked to contact 'Bible Read Through', 5 College Cloisters, Hereford, HR1 2NG, or chancellor@herefordcathedral.org

To download the poster click here