400th anniversary of the King James Version facts for kids

The year 2011 was special because it marked the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible. This famous book was first published in 1611. To celebrate this big birthday, many events and exhibitions took place around the world.

Celebrating the King James Bible's 400th Birthday

The King James Version, often called the KJV, is a very important English translation of the Christian Bible. Its 400th anniversary in 2011 was a chance for people to remember its history and impact. Events included special plays, readings, and exhibitions in different places.

How the United Kingdom Celebrated

Many places in the United Kingdom held events to honor the KJV's anniversary:

• The Shakespeare's Globe theatre had a week-long reading of the entire KJV. This happened during Holy Week in 2011. They also brought back a play called Anne Boleyn, which was about how the King James Version came to be.
• The Royal Shakespeare Company asked for a new play to be written. This play, called Written on the Heart, also explored the KJV's translation. It first showed in October 2011.
• The Royal National Theatre hosted readings of 12 parts from the KJV. Actors from their company performed these readings in October and November 2011.
• The Bush Theatre reopened in October 2011 with a series of performances. This series, called 'Sixty-Six Books', had a different writer respond to each book of the KJV.

Exhibitions and Displays

Special exhibitions were also held in libraries and cathedrals:

• Libraries at Oxford University and Cambridge University had displays. Oxford also offered a series of talks about the KJV.
• The Lambeth Palace Library also hosted an exhibition.
• Exhibitions were held at Winchester Cathedral and the John Rylands Library in Manchester. These displays showed old copies and information about the Bible.

United States Celebrations

The United States also joined in the anniversary celebrations:

• Zondervan, a publishing company, released a special book. It was called The Holy Bible: 1611 King James Version 400th Anniversary Edition. This book was a copy of the original 1611 version.
• Digital pictures from the Bible Museum in Goodyear, Arizona were used to create this special edition. It did not include the Apocrypha, which are certain books sometimes included in older Bibles.
• The King James Bible Society released the AvBible online. This was an audio-visual version of the KJV.