Local historian Adam Sowan discovered the 1639 King James Bible from his father’s house after he died two years ago. Last week, he presented it at Reading Christadelphian Church after reading in The Chronicle that they had launched a competition to find the oldest Bible in town.

Mr Sowan, of New Road, Reading, said: “My father lived in a very small house and when he died we had to clear out all of his books — they were three deep along all of the walls. We couldn’t just ask a book dealer to come in and sort through them.

“Among his collection was this Bible. I have no idea where he bought it but from the inside cover it looks like it only cost him a shilling. I can’t actually read this Bible as the print is far too small for me to see — but it’s a beautiful version.”

At nearly 400 years old the book is an example of one of the earliest King James Bibles. The ornate front pages contain a dedication to the monarch who commissioned the translation which formed the basis of many modern English versions of the text.

Mr Sowan was rewarded on Friday with a £25 cash prize and a copy of a book which chronicles the colourful history of the Christian scripture.