A remarkable and thought-provoking exhibition is coming to Bridgnorth this autumn, as St Leonard’s Church prepares to host a full-size replica of the Shroud of Turin — along with a wealth of display panels exploring one of the Christian world’s most intriguing relics.
The exhibition will run from Monday 26 October to Thursday 12 November, and will be open daily from 11am to 4pm. Admission is free. Visitors will be able to view the 14-foot-long replica of the Shroud (the original is held in Turin Cathedral), read the supporting information panels and, for those who wish, spend time reflecting on the mystery of this extraordinary cloth.
The touring exhibition has been brought to the town by two local men, Mike Shaw, from the Bridgnorth Baptist Church and Alan Muscat, from St John' Catholic Church, Bridgnorth, both of whom share a long-standing interest in the Shroud. Their aim is to invite people to look, listen and reflect on a subject that has fascinated believers and sceptics for generations.
Mike, a former solicitor now in his early 80s, has been interested in the Shroud for many years. Recently, however, his enthusiasm has grown even stronger as new research has emerged, casting fresh doubt on the previous medieval dating of the cloth. The renewed debate has only deepened his sense that the Shroud deserves serious attention.
Mike has been the driving force behind bringing the exhibition to Bridgnorth, though he is the first to admit that he needed help on the technical and publicity skills required to make the project happen. For those he turned to his close friend Alan Muscat — a graphic and web design professional based in the town — knowing that Alan shared his interest in the Shroud and could help bring the idea to life.
Together, the two men have put their energy into bringing an exhibition that is accessible, engaging and suitable for visitors of all backgrounds. For them, the story of the Shroud is not just about history or archaeology, but about something far more arresting: the possibility that the cloth may bear the image of Jesus himself.
It is this possibility that continues to give the Shroud such power. For believers, it can be a source of faith and reflection. For those still exploring the Christian faith, it may offer a striking and unexpected point of entry. And for others, it remains a deeply curious historical artefact that refuses to be easily explained.
At the heart of the fascination is the image itself. The Shroud appears to bear the image of a man who has suffered injuries consistent with crucifixion, but what makes it even more extraordinary is the fact that the image is essentially a photographic negative, the first ever ‘selfie’. That, in itself, is part of the mystery. Visitors will be shown how to use their mobile phones in negative mode to view the Shroud image as a positive photograph. This simple technique helps reveal the image more clearly. It is a small but memorable detail that is likely to stay with visitors long after they leave the church.
Science has not found an answer to how the image came to be there. No known physical or chemical process has been able to explain the transfer of such an image onto the linen. Despite decades of study, the origin of the image remains a mystery.
For Mike andAlan, that is part of the appeal. They are not claiming to the answers. Instead, they are offering the people of the Bridgnorth area the chance to encounter something unusual, visually striking and deeply thought-provoking. In a world where so much seems instantly explainable, the Shroud stands apart as something that still resists easy interpretation.
As local churchgoers, both men also believe the exhibition has a spiritual dimension. While neither sees the Shroud as something necessary for faith in Jesus, both feel that it can strengthen belief for those who have faith and inspire belief for those who are exploring. If nothing else, they say, the possibility that the cloth may preserve the image of Jesus of Nazareth is too awe-inspiring not to share with others.
The exhibition runs at St Leonard’s Church, Bridgnorth, from Monday 26 October to Thursday 12 November, daily from11am to 4pm, with free admission. Pam Moon, a researcher, author and educator associated with the British Society for the Turin Shroud, will open the exhibition with a talk at 7pm on Sunday 25 October, covering the history, science and latest developments surrounding the Shroud.
Further information and booking details for the pre-opening talk are available at www.turinshroudbridgnorth.co.uk
Image ©1978Barrie M. Schwortz Collection, STERA, Inc
