‘I long for a time when people of every language will have at least some, then more, Scripture in their own language,’ said Katy Barnwell in summing up her life’s work a few years before she died.
Dr Katharine Barnwell, known as Katy, was ‘a tall, shy woman who had nothing to do with the limelight,’ wrote her biographer, Jordan Monson. ‘And God made her one of the most influential missionaries who’s ever lived.’
Mama Katy, as she was known by many of her African colleagues, pioneered new methods of translator training that are the basis for the extraordinary growth of Bible translation today. Thanks to the way Katy revolutionised Bible translation, with power shifting from Western models to locally led solutions, a Bible or New Testament translation is being completed at the rate of one every three days!
Today, more and more local Bible translators are equipped to bring God’s word to their communities, using translation methods that Katy developed.
Katy was born in Britain in 1938. She remembered as a child having to hide from bombing raids during the Second World War. ‘I grew up moving around quite a bit. During my school days,’ Katy recalled in a 2020 interview, ‘I lived in Rotherham, Inverness, Shrewsbury, and eventually Goring-on-Thames, which has become my long-term home.’
She grew up in a Christian family. ‘I still have my first Bible, which was given to me on my fourth birthday by my grandmother,’ she recalled. ‘I had two great aunts who were very influential in my life… They told me that they’d prayed for me every day since I was christened. I have much to be thankful for.’
Later, at university, Katy became a committed follower of Jesus and began to study the Bible seriously. It was there that she first heard about Bible translation, when a speaker from Wycliffe visited the Christian Union. ‘When I heard about the need for Bible translation and what was involved, I immediately knew in my heart, This is for me,’ Katy said. ‘I took the first Wycliffe training course in the summer of 1960.’ By the mid-1960s Katy was among the first people serving Bible translation in Nigeria, working with Mbembe speakers and completing her PhD on the grammar of the Mbembe language in 1970.
Katy’s efforts helped see the New Testament published in the Mbembe language in 1985. But the Mbembe people wanted more translation – the Old Testament as well as translation into other Mbembe dialects. ‘The best way forward for this was clearly to get some Mbembe speakers trained,’ Katy said.
So began the revolution in training local Bible translators that has led to today’s huge growth in Bible translation.
James Poole, Executive Director of Wycliffe says: ‘We give thanks for the life and extraordinary ministry of Katy Barnwell, who served with Wycliffe for 62 years. Her love for Scripture and God’s mission transformed how Bible translation is done today. She pioneered new methods of translator training. Notably, moving the work from an academic model led by outside experts to one that practically equips local Christians to translate the Bible for their own communities.’
Katy’s textbook Bible Translation: An Introductory Course in Translation Principles was first published in 1975. It is now in its fourth edition. It remains the primary training resource for Bible translators and shaping the work of Bible translation worldwide. ‘She was rightly called the mother of modern Bible translation,’ continues James. ‘Her vision fuelled the rapid growth of the global translation movement, accelerating access to the Bible for countless millions and leading to church growth around the world.’
Katy’s character left a deep impression on all who met her. She was tireless and selfless, continually learning and persevering, always championing local leaders. She will be remembered as a mentor and encourager, loved for her wisdom, humility, and servant-hearted spirit.
‘We need to work together as a team, sharing talents and abilities, trying to help others develop their gifts and abilities, working in partnership with friends of all nationalities and backgrounds,’ said Katy about her approach to developing and encouraging local Bible translators.
‘The principles she advocated are now foundational for the work of Wycliffe and most other translation organisations worldwide,’ says James Poole.
One of the many, many people that Katy mentored was Olivia Razafinjatoniary from Madagascar.
‘My desire from day one was to become like her,’ Olivia said. ‘She was very encouraging, she really believed in me from day one. That pushed me to where I am now.’
Katy was thrilled to see the expansion of Bible translation during her lifetime. And the impact that people having God’s word in their language was having on lives and churches across the world.
‘It’s an exciting time in Bible translation,’ Katy said in one of her final interviews. ‘There are so many opportunities now that we never had before, so many resources, so many people involved. Now is the time to really go for it, with God’s help and his guidance, to see the time when speakers of every language will have the opportunity to have at least some Scripture in their own language.’
If you’d like to pay your own tribute to Katy, you can add a message here.
