Biblical Literacy

St John's College

A project by St John's College

Biblical Literacy

Visiting Fellow Rev'd Brian Brown has produced Underground Story, a version of the New Testament in language suited to reading ages 9-13 years to make the Bible stories accessible to young people in 21C Britain. The translation aims to be accurate to the original text but in language today's young people understand. The drafts now need to be tested in schools, involving teachers and their students in providing high-quality resources that effectively communicate the stories of the New Testament.

Why they need our service

The need for this project is demonstrated in the eager welcome it is receiving from teachers from all over the country. RE teachers have long felt that their attempts to promote an understanding of the Bible within their schools are being held back by lack of adequate materials with which they can teach. Responses from teachers who were sent soft copies include: "Very exciting and well needed"; "Looks great"; and "We love these"

Plan and expected results

We aim to recruit twelve thousand children and their teachers between the ages of 9-13 from over 600 schools across the UK. These schools will each receive 20 free copies of one of the gospels taken from Underground Story and give feedback of their experience via a survey. The findings from the survey will be presented at an international symposium (3-5/1/2020) on the theme "Young people and the Bible in the 21st Century".

What your gift could provide

£10

return travel for students to participate in outreach work in County Durham

£50

purchase of a research periodical or book

£250

a seat in the new lecture theatre

Fundraise for us!

Charity Information

St John's College

Registered charity no.: 1141701