Web 3 Living the life ‘Role model’ Page 1 of 6© Scripture Union 2005

Many years ago, a young girl lived with her parents in a small cottage in the Welsh countryside.

On Sunday mornings Mary walked to the little chapel in the village two miles away. On one particular Sunday the minister announced that a school was to open in the village. Mary thought to herself, "Now I can learn to read, and one day read the Bible."

Mary saved for six years until she had enough money to buy a Bible. She was told that a man in a town called Bala had a number of Bibles, so Mary decided she would walk there, which was about 45 kilometres. Mary followed many paths, and crossed valleys and streams, until eventually she arrived.

She then set out to find a gentleman called Mr Charles. “This is the very last one," he told her, and held out a brand new Bible. Mary stared at it for a long moment before taking it with both hands, and expressing her heartfelt thanks. She found his house and knocked on his door. As his door opened, Mary made her request for a Bible.

Soon after Mary's visit Thomas Charles went to London, and he shared the story of Mary Jones with some important men. They were as moved as he was. In 1804 the British and Foreign Bible Society was formed by some of these people in response to the need for Bibles, which stories like that of Mary Jones brought to light.