Bike for Bibles 2025 - Tour de Tyndale 2
Michael Smith is raising money for Bible Society
Story
Tour de Tyndale 2 — A Journey for the Bible
In 2024, I cycled from the birthplace of William Tyndale in Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire, to Vilvoorde, near Brussels — the place where he was executed in 1536 for translating the Bible into English. His work, drawn from Greek manuscripts cost him his life.
What’s Next?
2025 marks the 500th anniversary of Tyndale’s first publication of the English New Testament. To commemorate this milestone, I’ll be undertaking another ride — this time from Hertford College, Oxford (where Tyndale studied), to Worms, Germany, where he met Martin Luther.
It was in Worms in 1521 that Luther famously stood before Emperor Charles V and refused to recant his teachings — an act of courage that mirrors Tyndale’s own commitment to truth.
Along the way, I’ll visit:
Sites in Cambridge where many early English Reformers met
Antwerp, where Tyndale’s New Testament was first printed and secretly sent to England
The ride begins Friday, 4 July 2025, aiming to arrive in Antwerp by Tuesday, 8 July in time for a special academic conference on the Antwerp book trade — which will include sessions on the work and legacy of William Tyndale.
The link to the conference is below
Why I’m Doing This
I love the Bible — and I want to see more people read it, understand it, and be transformed by it. Many men and women in history risked, and even lost, their lives for the right to possess and share the Bible. That same reality still exists today: across the world, Christians are being persecuted, imprisoned, and even killed for owning or sharing Scripture.
The Bible Society continues the work of making the Bible available in difficult-to-reach places — translating, publishing, and distributing it in regions where believers suffer for their faith.
How You Can Help
I’m inviting you to sponsor this ride to help raise funds for the Bible Society, and to raise awareness of the sacrifices made by people like William Tyndale and John Wycliffe — heroes of the faith who made it possible for us to read the Bible in our own language.
If this inspires you, please consider donating, sharing the story, or simply taking some time to learn more about these remarkable lives.
Follow my journey on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) — once I figure out how to use them properly! 😅 (Links coming soon.)
The link to the conference is below