Thousands of New Testaments to be handed out for Diamond Jubilee

More than 655,000 Diamond Jubilee New Testaments have been ordered by churches to give out to their communities over the national holiday weekend next month.

The special edition New Testaments have been produced to help churches engage with their communities as the nation celebrates the Queen's 60 years of service to Britain and the Commonwealth.

In Preston, no less than 10,000 Diamond Jubilee New Testaments will be distributed by Longton Community Church to all 39 schools in the South Ribble area to mark this once in a lifetime moment.

Vicar’s wife Ruth Edy was given a New Testament 60 years ago to mark the Queen's coronation and will be continuing this tradition by presenting the New Testaments to children in Ducklington Primary School in Oxfordshire.

In the north of England, a Cumbrian youth project is also giving away the special New Testaments. The Shackles Off youth project in Seascale has ordered 100 copies to give away as part of their local Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Diamond Jubilee editions were produced by HOPE, the Church of England and Biblica, and feature eight pages of images from the coronation and the Queen's life.

Special presentation labels are available free from HOPE’s website to print and stick on the Bibles to give the gift a personal touch.

A new Facebook page - ‘My Diamond Jubilee New Testament Story’ - has been set up so people can share their stories and upload photos.

Roy Crowne, Executive Director of the national mission movement HOPE, said: "What has been so exciting is the stories that we have begun to receive about the places and occasions where the New Testaments are being given out.

"We are glad that so many churches are using this opportunity to give this special gift to people in their communities as they celebrate the Diamond Jubilee."

Mark Finnie, Church and Bible Engagement Director at Biblica said: "We could never have imagined the response to the Diamond Jubilee New Testament offer when the idea was first discussed.

"The New Testament will reach over one in 100 people in the UK, with 675,000 copies placed in the hands of people as they celebrate the Queen’s 60 years of service.

"We hope this will inspire churches, schools and agencies to create other custom Bibles and New Testaments for all sorts of occasions."