William Tyndale

William Tyndale was born in England in 1494. He studied theology at Oxford and was ordained a priest there in 1517. William Tyndale believes that everyone should be able to read the Bible in their own language. At the time, however, reading, distributing or possessing a Bible in vernacular was forbidden. There, he begins clandestinely translating the Bible and having it printed. As a result, William Tyndale finds himself in conflict with church authorities and flees to the continent.

After a period of pursuits, he ended up in Antwerp, where he continued his work under the protection of the English port colony. On 21 May 1535, he is arrested via a ruse and imprisoned in the castle of Vilvoorde. In his small cell, he still tried to translate as much as possible while waiting for his trial. For his interrogation by two Leuven theologians, he is transferred to the Vilvoorde "Valkeniershuis". On 6 October 1536, the sentence is carried out by the Inquisition. William Tyndale is first strangled in public and then burned. His ashes are scattered in the Senne at the bend where the little bridge to the Disciplinary House is now located.

Castle

Vilvoorde's ducal castle has disappeared from the townscape.The tourist information board is the only witness. The castle was located between the big church Our Lady of Good Hope and the Disciplinary House on the bend of the Zenne.

Execution

Tyndale's execution site is located between "Church, Castle and City Gate". Symbolically, Tyndale's ashes were scattered in the Senne.

History retains as a commemorative date 6 October 1536.

Monument to William Tyndale

Since 1913, William Tyndale has been commemorated with a monument located in William Tyndale Park since 1988. Starting point of a special experience. Traces of the Englishman can be found throughout the city centre, such as the "Falconer's House" where the interrogations took place.

Correction or Disciplinary House

Nothing remains of the original castle and its prison, except that after its decay, Vilvoorde remains linked to the prison system. Joseph II built a prison here in 1773 that was progressive for its time. In its foundations, stones from the castle ruins were used in the construction of this imposing complex.

William Tyndale museum

After its restoration in 2009, the prison complex became the new home of the Protestant Community and its museum around the work of this Englishman.

Protestant Community

in 2010, the William Tyndale-Silo community got its new chapel in these buildings.

Support project:
Landmark

Two flames make their way upwards, pointing to the pyre on which William Tyndale ended.

The short flame bears the name of William Tyndale. The large flame reads "Let there be light".

These words from the creation story to Genesis, stand as the first words of the translation from the Hebrew Tenach (Old Testament) by William Tyndale to the English-speaking world. These words evoke a multitude of associations for Christianity to this day.

It was William Tyndale's ideal to bring the light and insight from God's Word back to ordinary people through his translation work.

The date in the pedestal reminds us that 1536 belongs to that period when our Western civilisation came to emancipation.

The fundraising project should be for the realisation of the landmark

The museum, which works entirely on a voluntary basis and is realised by a working group of volunteers, also lives off donations.

Therefore, become a member of the museum by transferring an annual contribution of at least €60 to the bank account below

Support the museum by:

member to become: a membership is €5 a month or €60 a year.
the project Landmark financially support

Email address: tyndalemuseum@protestantsekerkvilvoorde.be
Account number: BE23 7507 0946 1091

More details:

Monument & William Tyndale Park

A 5-minute walk from City Hall.
At the intersection of Marius Duché Street with Mechelsesteenweg.
Walk William Tyndale
Start at Tyndale Park.
Arrival at the Disciplinary House.
Course: 1,300 m.
Duration: 1 hour (museum visit not included).

Museum William Tyndale

Rondeweg 3 (next to the Hotel Lodge), 1800 Vilvoorde
Tel: +32 (0)498 16 64 17
www.williamtyndalemuseum.be
Opening hours:
Wednesday: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
By appointment by phone or e-mail

tyndalemuseum@protestantsekerkvilvoorde.be

Protestant church William Tyndale-Silo

Rondeweg 3 (next to the Hotel Lodge),
1800 Vilvoorde.
Tel: +32 (0)2 251 39 45.
www.protestantsekerkvilvoorde.be
info@protestantsekerkvilvoorde.be
Opening hours:
Wednesday: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sunday: church services
at 10am