This year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible.

A series of events is planned at Bradford Cathedral to mark the anniversary, which it is hoped will bring people will back in touch with Christianity.

The two books of the Old and New Testament were translated by the greatest scholars and linguists of the age – men such as Dr Launcelot Andrewes, Dean of Westminster, and Dr Miles Smith, known as the ‘walking library’, who spoke Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac and Arabic.

The scholars were arranged into six groups, two each based at Westminster and Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Commissioned by the newly-crowned King James I in the autumn of 1603 in the hope of soothing religious differences within the comparatively new Established Church of Henry VIII and his daughter Queen Elizabeth I, work on the book reportedly began in earnest in 1607 and was completed five years later.

Shakespeare was writing plays in London throughout that time, as were Ben Jonson and John Webster. The poet John Donne was to become Dean of St Paul’s in 1621 until his death ten years later. During that time, using the new Bible, he wrote and delivered some of the greatest sermons ever heard.

Dean of Bradford Cathedral, the Very Reverend David Ison has a Ph.D in early Christian history. He says: “At the time of publication, it was state-of-the-art. The other key feature was it was produced at a time when English was still a fluid language. That’s why many phrases from the Bible and Shakespeare are still part of the language.”

The first five books of the Old Testament are based on the Jewish Torah. The 39 books of the Old Testament were assembled in Hebrew by around 500 BC. The 27 books which comprise the New Testament, written in Greek, were assembled by 315 AD.

From 600 AD to 1522, the Bible was available only in Latin. Then Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German, signalling the Reformation, the break with Roman Catholicism in Northern Europe.

In 1526, William Tyndale produced a New Testament in English, and was hounded as a heretic by Henry VIII. Myles Coverdale’s first complete English Bible was published covertly in 1535.

“Not until the late 1800s, with the discovery of new and better manuscripts, was a revised edition produced. They have continued to do revisions,” says Dr Ison.

The beauty of the book’s English has always been admired. But the Dean hopes that the coming year will help to put people back in touch with Christian culture which, he says, has been forgotten or overlooked.

“Quite a number of universities are putting on courses in Christian belief. If you don’t understand it, you won’t understand the poetry of Milton and most of Western art.

“So this anniversary is an opportunity to put people back in touch with experiences of God over the past 3,000 years. We are still singing psalms that Hebrews were singing in 1000 BC,” he adds.

Cathedral Events: Bradford Cathedral has events planned from the start of April to the last week of October to mark the anniversary.

* Illumination: An exhibition including an original copy of the King James Bible, on loan from Lichfield Cathedral. A 1616 copy of the Bible recently found in the cathedral will also be on display. The pages will be changed daily throughout the year. The exhibition is on from April 2 to October 23.

* Holy Week Meditations: Former Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David Smith, chooses some favourite passages from the King James Bible to reflect on Christ’s Passion. This is on from April 18 to 20, starting at 7.30pm.

* 1611 – The Word: Nigel Schofield’s historical review explores the creation of the King James Bible and its influence over the past four centuries. The show is performed by the Fleece Company. This is on from May 6 to 7, starting 7.30pm.

* Singing The Word: A concert by Bradford Cathedral Choir. Music includes works by Handel and other composers. This takes place on May 20, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £8 and £6 concessions.

* Tongues Of Fire: A special Bible service featuring contributions from throughout the dioceses, with Bible cake to finish. This takes place on October 23, Bible Sunday, starting at 4pm.