Learning Adult Learning The Heretic and the King: How William Tyndale Laid the Foundations for the English Bible Book Here 2026 marks the 500th anniversary of the most important book ever published in English: William Tyndale's New Testament. It was not only the first New Testament printed in English; it was an exceptional translation and a dazzling literary achievement, most of which was incorporated into the King James Bible a lifetime later. But it was also highly illegal, smuggled into England from exile, and ensured that Tyndale himself was living on borrowed time: he was burned as a heretic only ten years later. This lecture will tell the dramatic story of what Tyndale did, the odds he fought against, and of how, even as he was killed, his book became a pillar of England's Reformation from Henry VIII to James I. Please note that this event is being held in-person only and will not be livestreamed or recorded. Image Credit: Stain glass Tyndale window Hertford College. Accessed via Picryl Public Domain Media here. About Professor Alec Ryrie | Professor Ryrie studied History at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (1990-3) and Reformation Studies at St Andrews (1993-4) before completing a DPhil in Theology at Oxford (1996-99) under the supervision of Diarmaid MacCulloch. Currently, Alec is Professor of the History of Christianity at Durham and holds a particular research interest in the field of the Reformation and of Protestantism more widely, including how those histories have made themselves felt down to the present. Image credit: Victoria Ryrie. How to Book Tickets will be on sale until midday on the day before the event via the button above. Please ensure that you provide a current email address when you book. If you wish to book over the phone you may do so via the Box Office on 01727 890290. Clergy and Readers in St Albans Diocese have complimentary access to our Adult Learning courses, talks, study days, and reading groups. For clergy/Reader bookings, please email [email protected] with your name and role and we will confirm your place. Manage Cookie Preferences