Elvis Presley’s personal Bible filled with his handwritten prayers and notes is now on display at a church in England.
Most of us write notes in our Bibles. Some notes reflect what we learn from sermons or Bible studies. Others hold prayer requests for friends and family or our own struggles.
When we flip through those pages years later, those handwritten words remind us how faithful God has been through every season.
Elvis Presley’s Bible tells that same story of a man who found comfort in writing his prayers and thoughts in the margins of Scripture.
A Special Christmas Gift
The Bible tells a beautiful story of faith. Elvis received it as a Christmas gift in 1957 from his uncle and aunt. Throughout the pages, Elvis wrote personal prayers that show his deep trust in God.
What Elvis Wrote in His Bible
Pastor Gary Stevens shared what Elvis wrote: “Under Psalm 11, he has written, ‘In the Lord I have placed my trust and he will guide me.‘ Under another Psalm, he’s written, ‘Lord send me light to guide me,’ and other things we have, like, ‘Deliver me for I am nothing without you.‘”
Elvis grew up in a strong Christian home in Mississippi. His family went to the First Assembly of God Church, where gospel music shaped his young life. His mother Gladys taught him to love Scripture and prayer from childhood.
Gospel Music Was His First Love
Even though Elvis was known for his rock and roll, his first love was always gospel music. He kept Bibles everywhere – in his house, on tour buses, and in hotel rooms.
Friends remembered him reading Bible verses out loud to them. During his tours, Elvis held Bible study sessions all night long in his hotel rooms.
Despite being labeled “The King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis won all three of his Grammy Awards for gospel music. His gospel albums ‘How Great Thou Art’ from 1967 and ‘He Touched Me’ from 1972 showed his love to sing for the Lord.
Elvis sang gospel songs backstage and told friends he wanted to become a full time gospel singer someday.
Pastor Stevens brought Elvis’ Bible to Needham Market Evangelical Church in Suffolk for their 100th anniversary celebration. The Museum of the Book in London loaned the precious Bible for the exhibition, which runs until Friday.
The church exhibition also shows a rare Bible from the 1500s. William Tyndale translated this Bible into English when King Henry VIII said it was against the law.
Tyndale died for making the Bible available to regular people.
Pastor Stevens explained: “The story goes that Tyndale died asking that the Lord would open the King of England’s eyes; he was burnt at the stake for daring to print the Bible in English. Three years later, Henry changed his mind and ordered that a Bible be in every church.”
