ST EUSTACHIUS Church in Tavistock is celebrating the 400th year since the publication of the King James version of the Bible in 1611, with a number of special public readings in May.

Judith Davies, a spokeswoman for St Eustachius, said: 'This was not the first Bible in England, but it is one of the finest — Historian Simon Schama called it "this imperishable masterpiece." It has been termed "the finest work of art produced by a committee".

'For many of us who are no longer young, a passage from this translation was read aloud daily while we were at school. It became part of the texture of our lives.

'All churchgoers, and many who are not, are aware of the Bible as the sacred text for Christians, but not all are aware of its huge significance in cultural history and its influence on countless, poems and plays.'

Judith said there were here are also dozens of phrases which appear there for the first time —"whited sepulchre", "rod of iron," "lick the dust", "thorn in the flesh" and many more.

'There are also passages of sublime poetry-in-prose. One thinks of "consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these".

'Some ask why are we not reading the Old Testament as well. But we would need another 12 whole days to do that, and the church could not be free for that long. So this reading will be essentially an introduction to the magnificent whole.

'Please drop in and be our audience for as long or short a time as you can manage. If you have visitors staying, do bring them.

'We know that some will be hearing this text for the first time, while for others it will be a rediscovery of long-ago familiar words.'

There is a timetable of readings which will start at 9am each day and go through to 4.30pm: Thursday, May 19, Gospels of St Matthew, St Mark and St Luke; Friday, May 20, St John, Acts, Romans and Corinthians 1 and 2; Saturday, May 21, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians 1 and 2, Timothy 1 and 2, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, Peter, John, Jude and Revelation.

Judith added: 'In his new year message, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Rowan Williams, said of the King James Bible, "We all need long-lasting furniture in our lives."

'He said that this version gives us a big picture and tells us that we all matter. Here is a chance to stop and think about that.'