Public Bible Reading Aloud-May 6, 2026

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PUBLIC BIBLE READING 

Since 1993, the whole Bible has been read on the Capitol steps in Washington DC, one reader at a time, day and night over a period of three and a half days. 

Inspired by that effort, in 2014 Janice Gravely and her daughter Jane designed a way for the Bible to be read aloud all in one day, by numerous people in multiple locations, (City Halls, county courthouses, Churches, etc). Robin Mowbray and Joe Price joined them in implementing the plan.

In 11 hours, groups of people, churches, and other organizations can read, simultaneously, the whole Bible the day before the U.S. National Day of Prayer. 

This plan provides flexibility. If a group or church can only provide 11 readers, they can pair up with another group or church to read at a site. Each individual reads for 15 minutes, then another reads and together they read for an hour. The plan requires 11-22 readers at 8 different sites.   That totals 88-176 readers, with about 8-16 facilitators: 96-192 people in all. 

In 2014, the project started with 90 people reading at three public sites, and has grown to more than 1,000 people reading in other cities, states, and nations. 

The committee changed the name from Bible Reading Aloud to Public Bible Reading in 2021 to match Paul’s exhortation in 1 Timothy 4:13:  “Do not neglect the public reading of Scripture.” 

As people read, they often find themselves saying, “I didn’t know that was in the Bible,“ and “This was God’s message to me today.“ Almost all the readers want to read again next year. 

Public Bible Reading spreads God’s blessing to individuals, our towns,  states, and countries.