Bible Society

What Bible Society does

Bible Society, formally the British and Foreign Bible Society, is a UK-registered charity (number 232759) founded in 1804 and headquartered at Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon. The organization publishes and distributes Bibles and Christian resources, with a current portfolio spanning English translations (Good News Bible, ESV, CEV, NRSV, RSV, KJV), Welsh translations (beibl.net contemporary, BCN, William Morgan), and over 30 additional languages. It operates as part of the United Bible Societies global network and holds Royal Patronage from His Majesty King Charles III.

The company’s core technology is an e-commerce platform (biblesociety.org.uk) backed by an Online Bible Reader offering multiple translations in English, Welsh, Cornish, and Manx, complemented by iOS and Android mobile apps. A key proprietary capability is the dyslexia-friendly publishing format developed in partnership with the British Dyslexia Association, which in March 2024 made Bible Society the first UK publisher to publish the whole Bible in this accessible layout; a complete 26-volume boxset followed in January 2025. Other productized programs include Open the Book (school storytelling) and The Bible Course.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: one-time product sales (full Bibles, New Testaments, children’s books, Christmas booklets, and study materials priced £3–£199.99), recurring donations and monthly giving, and subsidized mission pricing for churches and outreach organizations. Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer via e-commerce, supplemented by bulk church/school supply, an event- and volunteer-driven community engagement layer, and international shipping to the EU and worldwide. Customer segments include churches, schools, families, Welsh speakers, and international mission organizations.

Name

Bible Society

Legal name

British and Foreign Bible Society

Website

https://biblesociety.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1804

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bible Society is a UK-registered charity (est. 1804) that publishes and distributes Bibles in 80+ languages, including the first UK dyslexia-friendly full Bible, serving churches, schools, families, and international mission organizations via e-commerce and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Publishing

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sacred Texts & Scripture Publishing (Bibles, Qur’ans, Vedas, Torah, Sutras) (MPAJAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides) (MPAJAHAB), Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC), Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD), Religious & Spiritual Books Retail (CRALAAAE)

Keywords

• Bible publishing
• Religious materials
• Christian resources
• Bible translations
• Accessible publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Swindon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of Bibles, Christian books, educational resources, and religious materials through the online shop. Products include full Bibles, New Testaments, individual books of the Bible, children's books, Christmas resources, and study materials in multiple languages and formats.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting Bible Society's mission to make the Bible accessible worldwide. Includes monthly giving programs and one-time donation options.
3. Subsidized Mission Products: Some products are sold at subsidized prices for mission purposes, with the organization covering basic costs including postage and packaging to support church and community outreach initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bible Society is a registered UK charity that translates, publishes and distributes Bibles and Christian educational resources in more than 80 languages, selling them through an online shop and through bulk supply to churches, schools and mission organisations. Its portfolio spans flagship English translations (Good News Bible, ESV, CEV, NRSV), contemporary Welsh editions (beibl.net and BCN), dozens of foreign-language Bibles, and the UK market's first dyslexia-friendly full Bible format, supplemented by digital reading tools and an outreach programme.

Product overview

Bible Society operates as a Bible publisher and religious materials distributor offering a diverse portfolio of products centered around Bible translations and Scripture accessibility. The core offering comprises multiple Bible translations in English (Good News Bible/GNB, ESV, NIV, NRSV, RSV, NLT, CEV, NKJV), Welsh (beibl.net, BCN), and numerous foreign languages. The company has pioneered dyslexia-friendly Bible publishing, becoming the first UK publisher to offer the whole Bible in dyslexia-friendly format in March 2024, with a complete boxset released in January 2025. Product portfolio includes: (1) Full-text Bibles in various translations and editions (youth, family, children's, large print, etc.); (2) Dyslexia-friendly Bible editions following British Dyslexia Association guidelines; (3) Foreign language Bibles in 30+ languages; (4) Welsh language materials including beibl.net and BCN translations; (5) Children's and family resources including coloring books, Christmas materials, and prayers; (6) Digital products including Online Bible reader and mobile apps; (7) Educational resources such as The Bible Course and walking guides. Distribution is handled through SKU Logistics Ltd for UK orders and Codestorm for certain items, with international shipping to EU and other countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Online Bible: Online Bible reading platform offering multiple translations including GNB, KJV, ESV, RSV, NRSV in English and Welsh languages.
• Scripture for Everyone
• beibl.net
• The Bible Course
• Open the Book

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 million copies sold in 80+ languages for The Children's Bible alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Bible SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBible Society works as part of the United Bible Societies global network, coordinating Bible translation, production, and distribution efforts worldwide. This partnership enables access to Bible translations in 80+ languages and supports international mission work.
• British Dyslexia AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing dyslexia-friendly Bible editions. Bible Society's accessibility format follows British Dyslexia Association guidelines for font size, spacing, paper color, and layout to ensure readability for dyslexic readers.
• Youth for ChristcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create beibl.net Welsh Youth Bible - a contemporary Welsh-language Bible translation designed specifically for young people in collaboration with Youth for Christ.
• RE:QUESTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with RE:QUEST to develop the Good News Bible Children's Rainbow Edition, using feedback and ideas from parents, teachers, and children to create an engaging Bible for young readers.
• SKU Logistics LtdminorOthersThird-party logistics provider handling dispatch and delivery of Bibles and resources within the UK, working with multiple delivery partners including Royal Mail, Yodel, and DPD.
• Catholic Church (The God Who Speaks)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Catholic Church in England and Wales for The God Who Speaks initiative, producing NRSV Gospel booklets (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) for Catholic congregations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Thomas Nelson Bibles: Established Bible publisher (NKJV, KJV, MEV) and HarperCollins sibling imprint; comparable in Bible translation and specialty editions (e.g., children's, study) to Bible Society's GNB and ESV product lines.
• Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian): Major commercial Bible and Christian book publisher (NIV, study Bibles) competing with Bible Society in the broader Christian publishing market with a larger catalog and global distribution.
• Tyndale House Publishers: Established Christian publisher producing the NIV, NLT, and other major Bible translations; overlaps with Bible Society on Bible publishing but operates commercially across a much broader Christian catalog.

Direct peers

• YouVersion (Life.Church): Free digital Bible app with thousands of translations and reading plans, the dominant global mobile Bible platform; competes directly with Bible Society's own iOS/Android apps and Online Bible reader for digital reader engagement.
• American Bible Society: US-based nonprofit Bible society founded in 1816 with parallel mission of Bible translation and distribution; closest direct peer to British and Foreign Bible Society in mission, product mix, and global UBS affiliation.
• SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge): UK-based Christian publisher and charity with a 300+ year history publishing Bibles, theology, and ministry resources; comparable to Bible Society as a UK-rooted religious publisher with overlapping product categories.
• Lifeway Christian Resources: US nonprofit affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention selling Bibles, studies, and church resources through retail and online channels; comparable mission and direct-to-church distribution model.
• Bible Gateway: Online Bible reading platform offering hundreds of translations and languages for free; directly comparable to Bible Society's Online Bible reader (GNB, KJV, ESV, Welsh, etc.) as a digital Scripture access competitor.
• Gideons International: Nonprofit organization that distributes free Bibles worldwide, particularly in hotels, schools, and healthcare settings; comparable to Bible Society in mission-driven distribution model and emphasis on accessibility.

Regional players

• Scottish Bible Society: Independent national Bible society serving Scotland with overlapping UBS affiliation and Bible distribution mission; comparable as a regional Bible Society peer in the broader United Bible Societies network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/biblesociety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/biblesocietytv
• Facebookfacebook.com/BibleSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bible-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/bible_society

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bible Society