This is the true story of a young Welsh girl who changed completely the printing and distribution of Bibles worldwide.
Mary Jones was born in 1784, and lived in the small village of Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, near to Abergynolwyn, mid Wales. From the age of eight she had listened to the Bible being read in the local church, and she longed for a Bible for herself. At that time she could not read, but she could memorise the Bible quotes she heard in the church services. Her prayer was, “O God please make a way for me to learn and know more about the Bible.”
At last a school was established in Abergynolwyn, two miles away, and there Mary learned to read. Bibles were rare and expensive, but she was determined to save for one.
She became very industrious. She started with two half pennies. She was given some hens, so she had eggs to sell; she did neighbours’ washing and ironing, and also gathered sticks for them. She found a purse and was given a shilling as a reward. She did other jobs and received several gifts. But when her father was ill, she gave some of her savings to her mother to help the household.
Journey to Bala
At last, at the age of 15, after working hard for six years, she had enough to purchase her own Bible—she had saved the grand sum of 3 shillings and 6 pence.
She had heard that the Reverend Thomas Charles had some Welsh language Bibles, in Bala which was 25 miles away, and determined to go to see him.
After packing some food and water and saying farewell to her parents, Mary set off barefoot as she did not want to wear her shoes out. Her journey was through rough terrain, but beautiful scenery. She met a few people along her way; some gave her refreshment when they knew where she was walking to. She washed in streams.
When at last she arrived in Bala, Mary stayed with her contact Pastor David Edwards. On the next morning he took her to see the Reverend Thomas Charles in his office. Noticing Mary’s poor clothing and rough hands, he thought she had a petition for work or some kind of help. Pastor David assured him, “Nothing wrong has happened, Mr Charles. This young girl has walked for 25 miles to ask if you have a Bible you can spare for her. She has the money to pay for one.”
Heartbreak and Joy
Mary told the Reverend that she could read, and demonstrated her knowledge of the Bible.
But his reply was devastating: “How unutterably sad to see this young girl so brave, so intelligent, so consistent a Christian, coming all this way to see me for a Bible, and I have none to spare for her, not one!”
Mary buried her face in her hands, tears gushing though her fingers, her body shaking so much that she could not stand. The two ministers sat in silence.
Suddenly Mr Charles rose from his chair and laid his hand on Mary’s head. He said, “You shall have your Bible. I cannot send you away without one, my child.”
He handed her a Bible from his own bookcase. “Here Mary, take it.”
Mary held the Bible, her eyes still brimming with tears. “Is it really for me?”
“Yes, it is a reward for all your earnest work and trust, may God bless you in your reading of it.”
Next day she strode off for home, clasping her own new Bible, and was greeted by her overjoyed parents.
Mary Jones’ story is now known worldwide. By way of tribute to her, many people since have undertaken the 25-mile walk from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Bala.
Bible Societies
Two years later, in December 1802, Mr Charles went to London to a meeting of the Religious Tract Society. He told them the story of Mary Jones, and stressed the dire need of the Welsh people for Bibles in their own language. His story made a deep impression. After a silence a Reverend Joseph Hughes said, “Hers is the story of the world. Your hope is of forming a society for printing and distributing Bibles in Wales, but I say why not for the world?”
So it happened that on December 7th 1802 the British and Foreign Bible Society was formed. Since then, other societies have been formed to further the vision of making the Bible available to everybody in their common language. The people of Wales planted a tree which now has many branches and spreads throughout the world.
Mary Jones’ Welsh Bible is kept in the Bible Society’s Archives in Cambridge University Library, and is occasionally displayed at the Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre in Llanycil near Bala, where she purchased it.
World Bestseller
Approximately 80 to 100 million copies of the Bible are sold every year, maintaining its status as the world’s best selling book. It has been translated into more than 700 languages.
Mary Jones’ example shows the value of this book, which is nothing less than the Word of God:
‘All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
TOM INGHAM