Edward Whitchurch- Printer

Edward Whitchurch English Printer of the Scriptures.
by whitleeshistory at 12:47PM (PDT) on July 4, 2005 | Permanent Link | Cosmos
Edward Whitchurch (circa- 1520-1580)

Among the great contributors to the Scriptures into the English language was Edward Whitchurch, royal printer to King Henry VIII of England in the 16th century. During the previous 14th century John Wycliffe often called the Morning Star of the Protestant reformation began the work of translating the the Scriptures into the common language of the people. This work on his part, understanding the need of the people, is what indirectly brought Edward Whitchurch printer, to prominence in our family history and to the world.

Since the days of William the conqueror court life and the pursuit of intellectual communication were spoken and or written in the French or Latin languages; languages considered by the nobility to be the mode of communication for the intellectual elite: John Wycliffe would change that way of thinking. His disciple to come later William Tyndale, Scripture translator of the early 16th century would enhance that chain of thinking. He followed through bringing a dramatic change to the English form of communication that allowed English to later become the language of the world of today. English according to some historians had been considered the vulgar language of the masses, rather the common people and unworthy of being spoken by the upper-class aristocrat: a system or chain of reasoning since the days of the Norman Duke who conquered England in 1066 A D. bringing his French influence with him. The printing press was to change this: Edward Whitchurch printer contributed to this change.

William Tyndale and others, inspired by God to translate the Scriptures into English that the people could read for themselves the very word of God, opened the door to the English influence that dominates the world today. Thus the language of the commoner became of the language of the nation and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God began to go to the world. While William Tyndale died was hanged then burned at the stake for his God inspired accomplishments, others took up the work and were further encouraged by the authority of King Henry VIII; one of those was Edward Whitchurch the printer to the king, a man of integrity. Thus was the words and cry of William Tyndale fulfilled "May God open the eyes of England." The Word of God was now being opened to the people of England.

While John Wycliffe and William Tyndale were the first to put the Scriptures in English, the second and great profound change in bringing English to prominence was the printing of the "Great Bible" also called the "Whitchurch Bible" printed by Edward Whitchurch and Richard Grafton in 1539. King Henry in his decree demanded that the Bible be printed then chained to every pulpit in England that the common people would have the "Word of God" made available to them in the everyday language they understood and were therefore able to have access to reading it. Further that if the commoner was unable to read, a reader should be provided that he/she might hear what was written. This single decree on the part of the King did more than advance the "Word of God;" it also promoted the speaking of the English language and the advancing of the education of the common people. Moreover the effects of this decree of printing the Scriptures opened additional doors for the spreading the Gospel of the "Kingdom of God." The "Great Bible" also called the "Whitchurch Bible" became the first royal authorized Bible in the English community. A Whitchurch printer had a part in the opening of the eyes not only of England but of all the nations that were to be influenced by the english language throughout the world. God indeed exalts the names of those who exalt Him.

It was one of our forebears,"Edward Whitchurch, Printer to the King" a man who was considered of great integrity, of the 16th century that was one of the great contributors to promoting God's Word, even to the point of later going to prison for the printing of the Protestant materials. As members of the Whitchurch families we can take pride in this portion of our heritage.