Location
iMuseum, Douglas, Isle of Man
THE MANX BIBLE AT 250: Day Conference
4 October 2025 | 10 am – 4.30 pm | iMuseum, Douglas, Isle of Man
Call for Papers, deadline – 1 September 2025
This conference celebrates the 250th anniversary of a seminal event for the religious and cultural life of the Isle of Man, the publication of the Bible in Manx. In 1775 a one-volume edition was published for clergy use, as well as an edition of the New Testament uniform with the two previously published Old Testament volumes. This, and the earlier translation of the Book of Common Prayer, were sponsored by the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, as part of its mission to provide Christian literature for areas under British rule.
The conference is free to attend, and all are welcome. Light refreshments will be provided. The day includes an opportunity to examine relevant Bible editions and manuscripts from the extensive holdings of the Manx National Heritage Library. The event is organized by the Manx Bible 250 working group, in collaboration with Manx National Heritage.
We welcome 20-minute papers on any aspect of the Manx Bible, including (but not limited to):
- the religious, cultural, and political context in which it was produced
- those involved in its translation and dissemination
- its relationship to the English King James Version (1611)
- its relationship to the Manx Book of Common Prayer (1765)
- its reception and subsequent history
- its use by churches in sermons, instructional works, poetry, and other literature
- comparing it with / relating it to other Gaelic and Celtic-language translations
- its relation to the historical development of Manx language, literature, and culture
- its use as a resource for language research and current learners of Manx
If you would like to offer a paper, please send a title and a 150-word abstract to Dr Tim Grass, tgrass.work@gmail.com, by September 1st.
For information about accommodation, go to https://www.visitisleofman.com/accommodation.
Image: Wiki Commons