#OTD in 1784, Mary Jones was born in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Abergynolwyn, North Wales. As a teenager she would inspire a movement of Bible translation which has since translated the Bible into over 200 languages through the work of the @biblesociety - here's how! (1/8)

Mary was born into a poor family in rural North Wales. Mary was one of those fortunate to learn how to read and write thanks to the circulating schools organised by the Welsh clergyman Thomas Charles. (2/8)

Mary's parents were devout Christians and Mary herself professed faith when she was 8 years old. Mary wanted desperately to read the Bible for herself. There was just one really big problem - Mary spoke Welsh and Welsh Bibles were rare and expensive. (3/8)

Mary saved for six years until she had enough money to buy a Bible. Then she was faced with her next challenge - the nearest Welsh Bible for sale was over 26 miles away in Bala, with Rev. Thomas. Even then, there was no guarantee he wouldn't be sold out! (4/8)

But Mary was determined and in 1800 she began her 26 mile journey (barefoot) across the mountains to Bala. Her journey was a success and Mary was able to purchase her family's first Bible in a language they could read and understand. Here is the inscription she wrote: (5/8)

The story of Mary's determination spread across North Wales. Eyes were opened to the need for affordable Bibles not just in Welsh but in every language.
As Robert William of Pandy, Rhosygwalia said: "Beibl i bawb o bobl y byd!/A Bible for everybody in the world!" (6/8)

Joseph Hughes channelled this momentum when he asked the Religious Tract Society on 7 December 1802: "If for Wales, why not for the kingdom? And if for the kingdom, why not for the world?" and the British and Foreign Bible Society (now known as the @biblesociety) was born. (7/8)

Mary lived to the ripe old age of 100 before dying in 1864. The legacy of her 26 mile walk, of the faith and determination of a teenage girl, continues to put Bibles in the hands of people across the world! (8/8)
#WelshHistroy

Correction for 1: that should have been over 200 countries in 200 years