Engaging In Bible Translation: Since 1806
The Bible Society exists to bring the Word of God to all people, in a language they understand, in an appropriate form, and at a price each one can afford.
Our History
The Bible Society began in Ireland as first the Dublin Bible Society in 1806 and then the Hibernian Bible Society, located at 10 Upper Sackville Street (O’Connell Street). During the Civil War in Ireland in 1922 the building was occupied by Anti-Treaty forces and on July 5th burned to the ground, with a loss of some original manuscripts, including a first edition Old Testament in Irish (1685), a first edition King James Bible (1811), and Dr Robert Morrison’s Chinese Bible (1823), the first complete Bible printed in China. In the aftermath of the war the Bible Society moved up to Dawson Street, where it is located today and eventually the remainder of the extensive Bible collection was moved to the stunning Russell Library in Maynooth University – See here.
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The premises in Dawson Street became a shop which housed multiple Bible translations and was loved by many, until its sad closure in 2015 which coincided with the untimely passing of the then CEO, Judith Wilkinson. Between 2015 and 2018 the NBSI Board worked tirelessly to preserve the Society, and what was the shop became a cafe also called ‘Bestseller’. In 2022, we were delighted to reopen a little office in 42 Dawson Street, beside the cafe, and it is from here our General Secretary undertakes the work of the Society.
Mary Jones
The story of how the Bible Society began however starts much earlier, and like St Patrick, also begins in Wales. In 1800 a young girl gathered the money she had saved over the previous six years, and set out on a 26 mile walk over mountainous terrain. Her goal was to purchase her own Bible in her heart language of Welsh. Six years earlier she had met Thomas Charles, a passionate minister who despite great adversity changed the lives of many for the better. Although Mary’s mother was widowed and they were extremely poor, she took extra jobs including bee-keeping and sewing to save enough to buy her own Bible.
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When she arrived in Bala that day in 1800 and knocked on the door of Thomas Charles’ home, he realised he had no Bibles left and young Mary burst into tears. Finding a kindly neighbour to house her, he managed to locate a Welsh Bible and she began her journey back home to her mother. Mary’s original Bible which she purchased can be viewed today with her handwritten inscription in Cambridge UL.
Mary’s choice to walk that day was not the only arduous journey ever undertaken to buy a Bible, but her story so moved Thomas Charles that he went to London to meet William Wilberforce, the abolitionist and with others they set about creating a Society where anyone from anywhere can access the Scriptures in whatever their preferred language.
Bible Society Ireland
Within four years the British and Foreign Bible Society was born and in 1806 the Dublin
Bible Society first met in the Royal Exchange, which is now Dublin City Hall near Dublin Castle. By 1812 the Ladies’ Auxiliary Bible Society was established and within a few years they had remarkably worked to create 71 auxiliaries, 331 branches and 203 associations around the country. By 1857 the Society stocked Bibles not only in Irish, Welsh and English but also in Greek, Polish, Italian, Hebrew, Turkish and Danish.
In 1987 the Belfast auxiliary became its own independent Bible Society creating two Bible Societies on the island of Ireland, now known as Bible Society Northern Ireland. The Hibernian Bible Society changed it name in due course to the National Bible Society of Ireland, and today, we have simplified that name – we are Bible Society Ireland.
Our Timeline
- 1806: Established in Dublin promoting Bible distribution in both English and Irish.
- 19th Century: Played a key role in supplying affordable Bibles, supporting Irish-language Scripture, and aiding literacy during turbulent times.
- 20th Century: Adapted to Ireland’s changing social landscape, maintaining a focus on ecumenical outreach and engagement.
- 2025: Renamed the Bible Society Ireland, reflecting our identity and nation-wide mission.
For a more comprehensive overview, see Sharing The Word: A History Of the Bible Society In Ireland (2006), Dudley Levistone Cooney
Positioning for the Future
Building on over 200 years of legacy, BSI remains committed to:
- Accessibility – Ensuring everyone can engage with the Bible in a way that speaks to them. This includes adapting to this digital age and enabling access to Scriptures in a variety of formats.
- Relevance – Connecting Scripture with modern Irish life through digital, educational, and community initiatives.
- Unity – Continuing our historic ecumenical vision, fostering dialogue and shared biblical understanding.
The National Bible Society of Ireland is a registered charity, CHY1592.