Dear Professor Daniell,
I was thinking about the rather sad fact that the founder of our Christian Science church, Mary Baker Eddy, never mentioned William Tyndale. As a great lover of the King James version of the Bible (to such an extent that she stipulated that our church services should be read from it), I am sure if she had known about Tyndale’s contribution, she would have mentioned him with enthusiasm.
This lead me to wonder when Tyndale’s contribution came to be known about? When did scholarship about him begin? Was he known about at all before you started your great research and writing? Perhaps this information has already been given in the Tyndale Society’s newsletter; if so I apologize for having missed it (or maybe it was before I became a member). But if not, it might be a very interesting thing to put in the Newsletter. I would love to know how Mrs Eddy missed him, so to speak. She knew about other Bible translators, such as Wycliffe, and mentioned him. Someone apparently sent her a copy of Wycliffe’s Bible, but would it have been possible for someone to have sent her a copy of a Tyndale Bible in the 19th century?
With all good wishes,
Vanessa Whinney, Highgate
Dear Mrs Offord,
Serendipity lives! On Christmas Eve I finished a transcription of Edward Tyndall’s will. Yesterday the Tyndale Society Journal arrived with a letter from his great x8 grandson, the Rev Anthony Trotman.
I belong to the Slimbridge Local History Society and it is in Slimbridge that Edward Tyndall had owned Hurst Farm and where the Trotman family lived. In addition to transcribing all the Slimbridge church records and Bishops Transcripts the SLHS has transcribed over a hundred Tudor wills. In these the Trotman family appears several times. I should be most grateful if you could put me into contact with the Rev Anthony Trotman so that we can exchange data.
You mention that he has sent you some material. Would it be possible for the SLHS to obtain copies of any which is relevant to the village, particularly the church and its inhabitants?
Yours faithfully
Dr E.W. Carpenter, Slimbridge
Editor’s comments
It is most encouraging to receive letters such as these. All the parties are now in touch with each other and we hope to publish some of the work of the Slimbridge Local History Society in the Journal.
Dr Joe Johnson wrote recently from the United States to give news of his plans:
At the present, the only confirmed event is on 27 October 2001 in Paxton, Florida. It will be a Let There Be Light exhibition. I am planning a really nice exhibit on the history of the English Bible with numerous items including: Erasmus, Tyndale, Great Bible, Geneva, Bishops’ Bible, and Authorized Version. There will be great emphasis on Tyndale and included will be information about the Tyndale Society: handouts, membership applications, publications, web address, and, of course, Dr. Daniell’s new book with order forms.
If things go as expected, we will also hold some lectures and slide/tape show. This will be the third such Paxton exhibit that we have put on around Reformation Sunday. It gets better each year! Most exciting!
My best,
Joe
The Holy Land Experience
The Holy Land Experience, a 15-acre theme park, has now opened in Orlando, Florida. Here for a ticket costing $17 (£12) you can visit the Caves of Qumran and the Western Wall of the Great Temple within 75 yards of each other, stopping for bodily refreshment at the Oasis Palms Café just off the Via Dolorosa. Their menu offers Goliath Burger, Bedouin Beef Wrap, Thirsty Camel Cooler and Milk-and-Honey Ice Cream.
Contributed by Mary Clow