Historic great books on display at Aberystwyth

We don’t normally direct Orchid Meadows guests to a day out at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth – it is a sombre place – but this year there is a very good reason to visit it. The personal bibles of King Henry VIII and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell are being displayed side by side for the first time.

Henry set about reforming religion after the Pope refused to grant him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. This involved the Church of England breaking away from the authority of Rome and Henry becoming its supreme head. Monasteries were shut down and their lands sold off with the proceeds transferred to the King. This was a historic move that strengthened the power of the state over religion.

The chief architect of the upheaval was Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell also convinced Henry to allow a translation of the bible from Latin to England and its subsequent publication as The Great Bible in 1539. It was to be placed in every parish church in the land for ordinary people to access. Two special copies were hand-illustrated and kept by the King and Cromwell. The King’s is permanently held at Aberystwyth, while Cromwell’s is on temporary loan from St John’s College, Cambridge.

As viewers of TV’s Wolf Hall will know only too well, Cromwell made enemies at the King’s court and eventually fell out of favour with Henry. His head was chopped off in 1540.

The bibles are dramatic, impressive and the size of small suitcases. Witnessing such an important slice of history is well worth making a trip to Orchid Meadows for.

Copyright St John's College, Cambridge