Welsh Braille Bible is launched

A Braille version of the Welsh Bible has been launched in Carmarthen.

The Welsh New Testament and Psalms in Braille was unveiled at Trinity University College chapel after a £25,000 fundraising appeal.

Although the Bible, or parts of it, has been translated into about 2,500 languages, a Braille version is available only in about 40.

Donations came from the Bible Society, religious denominations, chapels, churches, schools and individuals.

The project was co-ordinated by the Bible Society on behalf of the appeal committee and the Bible was printed by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The Bible has been welcomed by Rhian Evans, who has been blind since she was a young woman and who has been campaigning for a Welsh Braille Bible for years.

"My dream has come true," said Ms Evans, from Carmarthen, who read from the Gospel of Matthew at the service to launch the braille bible.

"The Bible should be available for all to read.

Now blind Welsh-speaking people can read the word of God in their heart language”

"I'm very grateful indeed to everyone who supported this appeal."

"The response was amazing," said Alun Lenny, secretary of the appeal committee.

"Following substantial contributions by the Bible Society and religious denomination in Wales, money poured in from chapels and churches, schools and individuals."

Speaking at the launch, Dr Watch James, of the Bible Society, said: "Of all the languages of the world only 40 or so have the Bible available in Braille.

"Now blind Welsh-speaking people can read the word of God in their heart language".

It is intended to make the first 10 sets of the New Testament and Psalms in Welsh in Braille available at main libraries.