HATHERLEIGH Action Group of the Bible Society is the oldest of its kind in the world and this week celebrates 175 years of helping to make the good book available to people everywhere.
The group has a programme of events lined up, including a children and youth pageant this Saturday, and hopes to attract young people to take the organisation on to its 200th anniversary.
Congratulations have come from far and wide for an organisation which is helping to spread God's word through the translation of bibles and raising cash to send them all over the world.
Former Vicar of Hatherleigh Nick McKinnel said that to have the oldest Bible Society support group in the world was a 'remarkable tribute to the churches in and around Hatherleigh whose vision founded it 175 years ago and whose generosity and dedication has sustained it ever since'.
Former superintendent of the Hatherleigh circuit Kenneth Martin said in no other place where he served was there such a celebrated Bible Society weekend as the one in Hatherleigh.
'No wonder it is the oldest group — may there be many more years of devoted service of the same quality ahead,' he said.
Present secretary of the branch Allan Kinsey said the work of the group was so worthwhile and it was the wish of everyone involved to get younger people to join.
'We must maintain these donations and need people to carry on the work in the future.
'We raise money so bibles and literature can be translated and sent out to other nations. I know translated religious literature is working to good effect in the prisons.'
Development manager for the Bible Society David Irish said it was impossible to measure all that had been accomplished throughout the world as a result of the many bibles.
'Having been for over 12 years on the receiving end of bible work as a missionary in Papua New Guinea, I came to value the hard work the society does,' he said.
'I can assure everyone involved at Hatherleigh that with people having God's word in their heart-language there is potential for individuals, families, communities and society to be changed for the better.'