Abbey loans rare 1588 first edition Welsh Bible to St Davids Cathedral

Monday, 16th June 2025

Abbey loans rare 1588 first edition Welsh Bible to St Davids Cathedral

A rare 1588 Welsh Bible from Westminster Abbey’s Library collection – the first complete translation of the Bible into the Welsh language – has been loaned to St Davids Cathedral, where it will go on public display for the first time this week.

The Abbey’s copy of the Welsh Bible is of exceptional historical significance. It was presented by Bishop William Morgan, who had been commissioned to produce a standard Welsh edition by drawing on earlier versions. Morgan oversaw the printing in London while staying in the Deanery of Westminster Abbey with his friend Gabriel Goodman, the Dean of Westminster and a fellow Welshman.

As a gesture of gratitude, Morgan presented a copy of the newly printed Bible to the Abbey’s Library, writing a personal inscription in Latin to record the gift on the title page. The Bible has been in the Abbey’s collection ever since, and has never before been taken to Wales.

The Bible will be presented and discussed at the conference of the Cathedral Archives, Libraries and Collections Association (CALCA) tomorrow (Tuesday 17th June) before going on public display in St Davids Cathedral’s Treasury until 9th July, offering visitors a rare opportunity to see this remarkable volume first-hand.

Dr Tony Trowles, Head of the Abbey Collection, said:

‘The copy of the Welsh Bible presented to Westminster Abbey Library by Bishop William Morgan in 1588 reminds us of the important role of learning in the life of the Church and of the rich collections of printed books and manuscripts which have been cared for and studied over the centuries in the libraries of our cathedrals and collegiate churches. It has been a great pleasure to work with colleagues at the Cathedral to facilitate the loan of this Bible so that it can be seen and appreciated in Wales for the first time.’

Further reading

Westminster Abbey library collection

Gabriel Goodman

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