January 19, 1568

 

Miles Coverdale

 

Death of Miles Coverdale (b. 1488), publisher of the first printed English Bible.  He completed the translation of the Old Testament which William Tyndale and left unfinished at this death.  Although Tyndale had openly criticized King Henry Viii, Coverdale dedicated his 1535 edition of the Bible to him.

Here is John 3:16,17 as printed in the Coverdale English Bible:

“For God so loued the worlde, that he gaue his onely sonne, that who so euer beleueth in him, shulde not perishe, but haue euerlasting life.  For God sent not his sonne in to the world to condempne the worlde, but that the worlde might be saued by him.”

January 11, 1843

 

Francis Scott Key

 

Death of Francis Scott Key.  Although usually remembered as the author of America’s national anthem, Key was also a devoted member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and taught Bible classes in and around Washington, D.C.  He was also among the organizers of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, founded in 1820.

December 25

When was Christmas first celebrated?   In an old list of Roman bishops who conducted mass complied in 354 A.D., these words appear for the year 336 A.D. – “25 Decem natus Christus in Betleem Judeae.” – “December 25, Christ born in Bethlehem, Judea.:  This day, December 25, 336 A.D., is the first recorded celebration of Christ’s mass in recognition of his birth.

December 15, 1830

 

Lewis Henry Redner

 

Birth of Lewis Henry Redner, organist and composer of the hymn tun for “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, in Philadelphia, PA.  A devoted churchman, he served as Sunday school Superintendent for 19 years at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.  He also served as organist for the church.

December 4, 1809

The International Bible Society was founded in New York City as an interdenominational agency for translating, producing and distributing the Scriptures.  Since then, I.B.S. has distributed the Word of God to over 150 countries in the world.