st_ivesDicing for Bibles is a 330 year old tradition in St Ives. Dr Robert Wilde, a Puritan clergyman and poet, left money to his parish to purchase bibles for children, but the children wold have to win them by playing dice at the altar. (source)

According to this 2003 BBC article, the tradition is in danger of dying out. The Reverend James Pullen thinks its a pity that the tradition has attracted only a few children lately. Or rather, as he puts it, “That’s the bit I really want to revive – the vicar and the churchwardens get a nice meal out of it, including as much claret as they can drink.”

(source)