Reformation Sunday – the Independent Orange Order Remembers 500 Years of the Bible in English – A Tribute to Faith, Freedom, and the Power of the Word

The Independent Loyal Orange Institution (ILOI) has officially launched its Remember the Reformation initiative with a solemn and stirring Reformation Sunday Service held at the ILOI Headquarters Halls, Edwards Street, Ballymoney. This year’s theme—“Tyndale: 500 Years of the Bible in English”—marks a defining moment in Protestant history and the enduring legacy of William Tyndale, whose translation of the scriptures into English in 1525 gave the common people access to the Word of God.

REMEMBERING THE REFORMATION
The service was the opening act of the ILOI’s “Remembering the Reformation” initiative, a cornerstone of the wider Remember November Programme, which honours the spiritual and cultural milestones that shaped Protestant identity.

Imperial Grand Master James Anderson addressed the congregation with a powerful reflection:
“The Reformation was not simply a historical moment—it was a a spiritual revival and a liberation of conscience and truth. The ILOI has always been committed to its commemoration, not as a relic of the past, but as a living legacy that continues to speak to us today.”

The ILOI Religious Affairs Committee issued a poignant statement:

“The privilege of being able to read the Bible in our mother tongue is often taken for granted. Yet for centuries, this was denied. Translating the Bible was a death sentence for those who undertook it. We must be thankful to God for men like William Tyndale, who gave his life to deliver us a Bible we could all read.”