The Connecticut Bible Society
On May 11, 1809, a group of prominent citizens gathered in the Old State House in
Hartford, Connecticut to form the Connecticut Bible Society (CBS).
Connecticut is the second oldest of the Bible societies in North America and
the first to print the Bible, the Connecticut Bible Society adopted a simple and singular objective on that spring day in
1809. According to the beautifully inscribed record of that first meeting, “....The circulation of holy scriptures shall
be its only objective. The common version of the Bible and impressions that combine cheapness and plainness, without note
or comment, shall be selected.”
The Connecticut Bible Society, chartered by
the Senate and House of Representatives in the General Assembly convened on March 19, 1870, still exists for the purpose of
encouraging people to read; study and distribute the Holy Scriptures. On May 10, 2009 we celebrated our 200th
Anniversary.
Guided by a Board of Directors consisting of active clergy and
laity from the Episcopal, Roman Catholic and several Protestant denominations the Connecticut Bible Society has distributed
thousands of free Bibles (English and non-English), Bible reading guides and tracts to citizens throughout our state. Many
correctional, health-care, educational and religious institutions as well as women’s shelters and homeless
shelters have also been the beneficiaries of the Society since its inception.
Our mission continues to be encouraging encounters with the Word of
God, and one way we do this is by offering our daily reading guide in both English and Spanish. Grants from the American Bible
Society and the International Bible Society make it possible to send within Connecticut free Bibles as well as the daily reading
guides. If we can help you with your ministry, please contact us for Bible Reading Guides or fill out a CBS Free
Bibles Grant.
We share with you the
hope of making the Bible more easily available and believe God will do the rest.
