"The Bible has played a vital role in the religious and cultural life of Wales. Its stories, characters and places have been depicted in many imaginative ways: through sculpture and painting, stained glass and tapestry, woodcarving and engraving.

Much of this artwork is little known or appreciated. Imaging the Bible in Wales, a three-year research project, seeks to record significant examples and analyse the social, political and theological issues that they raise. Some of these visual expressions are fast disappearing as churches and chapels, often their original and only location, fall into disuse.

The research project is based in the Theology and Religious Studies Department at the University of Wales, Lampeter, and is run in collaboration with National Museum Wales, the National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies in Aberystwyth.

We are interested in all kinds of images depicting biblical scenes or characters that were made, displayed or used in Wales between 1825 and 1975. Much of our research has focussed on places of worship in Wales.

For example, there are many hundreds of stained glass windows in Welsh churches but, in addition, there are also murals, paintings, carvings, statues and banners from the period.

We are keen to receive information and photographs of artwork to help us build up a database of images of the Bible in Wales. As part of the project, we are publishing an online database of images, and any relevant information or photographs that we are able to use will be included with appropriate acknowledgement.

Information about biblical paintings and banners will be most welcome and, because of their relatively small number, we are particularly want to hear about biblical images from non-conformist chapels.

Similarly we are seeking biblical material from Jewish contexts in Wales, so information about visual material from Welsh synagogues or other Jewish centres in Wales would be welcome.

If you are aware of a fine painting or stained glass window in your church or chapel, have an interesting sampler or old print on your wall with a biblical scene, or know of artists in Wales who depicted biblical subjects, please get in touch with us, and where possible send or email photographs with whatever information you have.

A conference on Imaging the Bible will take place in 2008.

The interdisciplinary conference will draw on the findings of this major project that explores distinctive visual images of the Bible across Wales.

The conference will take place from 31 March - 3 April 2008 in Aberystwyth and will feature speakers from the worlds of Biblical Studies and Art History, an art exhibition, and visits to important local sites.

We can be contacted at:

Imaging the Bible in Wales
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Wales, Lampeter
SA48 7ED"

Article written by Martin Crampin