A group of Christian volunteers and theologians have been working on translating the entire Bible into British Sign Language.

The Bible Translation Project (BSL) aims to turn the scriptures into a series of BSL videos for deaf people to use as a resource.

Currently, they have completed chapters one to nine in the book of Mark.

Since September they have also started a new project of translating the book of Genesis.

Rev Canon Gill Behenna who ministers at Bristol deaf church and who is part of the BSL Bible project told the BBC she wants deaf people to experience the same connection with God as she does when she reads the Bible.

She said, “When I read the Bible I am sometimes inspired by a single verse or story, and I sense God communicating with me through that. I want the same for Deaf people.

“Although a huge number of Deaf people are bilingual, it’s different having the words of scripture in your own heart language – the language you use and you identify with.”

She explained to the BBC that instead of translating the project word-for-sign, they are translating whole theories.

The project is based on the Authorised Version and it consists of a video recording of a presenter signing.

BSL has been officially recognised as a language in its own right since March 2002 and has its own grammar and syntax, as well as vocabulary that includes the expression of vital and complex Biblical truths.

There are around 87,000 who use BSL as their preferred language (where English may be a second or third language) and currently, there are around 151,000 individuals in the UK who can use BSL (not including translators and interpreters).

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