Commemorativestamps to mark400 years of King James Bible

The King James Bible was commissioned by King James I and was the third version of the Bible to be printed in English. It was completed in 1611.

Royal Mail’s decision to commemorate this anniversary was welcomed by Upper Bann MP David Simpson.

He said: “This 400th anniversary is important at many levels of our society and for many reasons. On the literary front the King James Bible remains the single greatest piece of literature in the English language.”

He added: “It also had a huge and beneficial impact in social affairs as hospitals were built, orphanages established, the hungry were fed and the poor given shelter.

“Above all it has had a tremendous and positive effect upon our national public morality and ethical and spiritual values as under its influence lives and entire communities were transformed.”