Coverdale, Miles

(1488-Jan. 20, 1569). Reformation-era Bible translator. He was probably born in what is called Cover-dale in that part of Yorkshire known as Richmondshire. He studied at Cambridge and was ordained priest in 1514. He joined the Augustinian Friars at Cambridge, where Robert Barnes, later a Protestant, was the prior. Coverdale left the monastery in 1526. From 1528 until 1535, he lived on the Continent. His translation of the Bible was published in 1535. It was the first complete Bible in English. He revised this 1535 translation, and in 1539 it was issued as the “Great Bible.” The Psalter of the Great Bible was the Psalter of the 1549 BCP. In 1540 he edited “Cranmer's Bible.” Coverdale returned to England in 1539, but he was forced into exile again in 1540. He lived for a time at Tübingen. From 1543 until 1547 he was the Lutheran pastor at Bergzabern, Germany. He returned to England. On Aug. 30, 1551, he was consecrated Bishop of Exeter. He was deprived of this office on Sept. 28, 1553, after Mary became Queen. Again he went into exile, but he returned to England in 1559. Coverdale is recognized as an outstanding preacher, and a faithful Bible translator. Later in life he was a Puritan leader. He died in London.