Exhibition: A dangerous calling - 500 years of William Tyndale’s New Testament

See our first edition of the Tyndale New Testament by booking a Treasures tour in addition to a general admission ticket.

Our new exhibition, A dangerous calling: 500 years of William Tyndale’s New Testament, is now open until February 2027. 

500 years on from its publication, discover the extraordinary story of one of the smallest yet most dangerous books in English history.

Come and see our 500-year-old first edition copy, and discover how this once forbidden text gave ordinary people 'from princes to ploughboys' the chance to read the word of God for themselves. Learn how Tyndale risked everything to make that possible, and how within 15 years, a book that was burned outside these very walls became one of the most sought-after in England.

The display brings together six Bibles, including the Tyndale:

1. Tyndale New Testament (Worms: Schoeffer, 1526)  
2. Tyndale Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament) (1534)
3. The Newe Testament, in Englyshe and in Latyn (London : 1538)  
4. Matthew Bible 1537 (‘Bugge Bible’) 38.A.1.  [1st ed]
5. Great/Cranmer’s Bible Nov. 1541 38.A.6 [3rd ed]
6. KJV (Cambridge: John Field, 1660)

Please note, to see this display, Treasures tour tickets should be purchased along with a general admission ticket.

Interactive digital display

Explore the pages of the Tyndale New Testament in an interactive digital display on the Cathedral floor. Flick through historic pages, and explore the words, illustrations and typography up close.

Open during sightseeing opening hours and included with your general admission ticket.

In the Crypt

Continue the story in the Crypt, where a short film brings Tyndale's life vividly to life, and get hands on with activities for all ages.

Open during Monday to Saturday sightseeing opening hours and included with your general admission ticket.