A leather bound 400-year-old Welsh bible that survived a French invasion, fires and even being used as toilet paper was discovered gathering dust in the back of a church after four centuries.
The leather bound 1620 Llanwnda Bible, which withstood the last invasion on British soil in 1797 defied the odds and will now go on public show at the National Library of Wales.
The bible was already nearly 200 years old when enemy invaders landed on shores in Llanwnda, Pembrokeshire, west Wales – while George III was still on the throne – before raiding buildings and burning all in their path.
A 400-year-old Welsh bible that survived a French invasion, fires and even being used as toilet paper by enemy soldiers is to be exhibited at the National Library of Wales. The leather bound 1620 Llanwnda Bible withstood the last invasion on British soil in 1797
The army of 1,400 French and Irish troops smashed up pews in St Gwyndaf’s Church in Llanwnda and used pages from the bible to start a fire.
The Llanwnda Bible was then abandoned until being found again in the 1990s.
Vicar of the church Rev Sarah Geach said: ‘The story goes that the book was rediscovered at the back of the church in the 1990s and nobody realised what it was.
‘The parish made a cabinet but of course they were not able to store it under the right conditions and over a period of time it started to deteriorate..’
The bible was handed over to conservators at the University of Wales’ Trinity St David’s in Lampeter, West Wales, two years ago.
It was placed in a special strong room with temperatures set at 15C and humidity levels at 60 per cent to revitalise it.
The leather bound 1620 Llanwnda Bible, which withstood the last invasion on British soil in 1797 and for nearly four centuries sat in the back of a church, defied the odds and will now be on public show
Enemy invaders landed on shores in Llanwnda, Pembrokeshire, west Wales, while George III was still on the throne, before raiding buildings burning all in their path
It will next month be moved to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
Retired lecturer Dr John Morgan-Guy said: ‘What makes it unique is its association with the last invasion on British soil all those years ago.
‘It did well to survive when you consider what it must have been through.
‘Expert analysis of the bible suggests these soldiers grabbed it by the hard cover and tore the bindings, which were made of wood and thick, strong string, from the paper with considerable force.
The army of 1,400 French and Irish troops smashed up pews in St Gwyndaf’s Church in Llanwnda and used pages from the bible to start a fire
‘(soldiers) ripped handfuls of sheets from the bible and used them to start a fire outside so they could cook food and keep warm. ‘Alas, some of the sheets were used for more basic purposes by the soldiers…’ said retired lecturer Dr John Morgan-Guy
‘They then ripped handfuls of sheets from the bible and used them to start a fire outside so they could cook food and keep warm.
‘Alas, some of the sheets were used for more basic purposes by the soldiers…’
Eventually the bible will be returned to St Gwyndaf’s – where it will be on display inside a temperature and humidity controlled glass cabinet.