Staged by Word Alive and hosted by the congregation at Charlotte Chapel, this exhibition tells you everything you need to know about the Good Book and its influence on Christianity through history. Taking the form of a wrap-around display in the central foyer of the church, text-heavy panels are interspersed with digital displays and other objects to view. The display is thoughtfully arranged around a central seating area, where visitors can peruse assorted books or literature, or enjoy the chapel’s café.
So, what does the exhibition tell you? Essentially it is a history of the Bible, from its origins through to its modern translations. There are explanations about the different types of literature to be found within the Bible, with each of the 66 books cleverly illustrated on one of the touch screens. Whether you are particularly drawn to the poetry, parables or letters of the Bible; there is something for everyone here. The interactive elements of the exhibition were the highlight, as some of the text was necessarily dense. With stools and headphones surrounding the displays, every thought has gone into the arrangement of the exhibition. A video of the people of Kimyal in Indonesia receiving their first copy of a Bible translated into their native tongue was particularly moving. However, whilst the film was helpfully subtitled, the sound was somewhat drowned out by the ambient music being played in the foyer.
The volunteer staff at the exhibition were very warm and welcoming, as you might expect in a church. Incredibly well-intentioned, there was a slight risk of being over-helpful if you wanted to just have some quiet time reflecting on the exhibition, however. The display is understandably pro-Christian and during my visit there seemed to be a quite heated debate between one of the staff and one of the visitors about the textual conflicts between a belief in the Christian God and Allah. Although the exhibition was quite liberal in places, there was also an element of presentation as fact and such debates might be unwelcome. Having said that, there are some fascinating exhibits here - including a singed Bible rescued from the Great Fire of London in 1666 and a copy of Murdoch Nisbet’s New Testament in Scots. With over 5 billion copies of the Bible sold, this exhibition will appeal to a wide audience who will be made welcome here to explore their faith and find out a little more about the Good Book.
