23 October 2024
Originally published here.
A new exhibition and series of free events that explore apocalyptic culture and belief are taking place at the Panacea Museum as part of the nationwide Being Human Festival until the end of next month.
CenSAMM (Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements) is based at the Panacea Musuem and promotes high quality critical and academic research into apocalyptic and millenarian movements across time, place and culture.
The special exhibition, Preparing for the Apocalypse – towers, prophets and meaning, explores the significance of landmark towers in Apocalyptic culture and belief.
The displays take inspiration from the Panacea Society’s own clock tower as well as the symbolic ‘towers’ of international membership for the Healing Ministry. The significance to the Society of James Jezreel’s Tower in Kent is investigated, as well as a look at towers in the Bible and their meaning.
A model of Jezreel’s Tower.
Featured in the exhibition are the Museum’s detailed model of “Jezreel’s Tower”, documents relating to the Panacea Clock Tower, the international “Healing Towers”, and works of art collected by members.
The Panacean’s beautiful Clock Tower is recognisable to many Bedfordians, and was completed in 1931. The clock and bell were supplied and installed by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon who still service the clock today.
The Panacea Society was a Christian community founded and led by women and based in Bedford. The Society believed that their leader Mabel Barltrop was the daughter of God and their garden was the Garden of Eden. The Panacea Museum is based in their headquarters at number 11 Newnham Road.
The exhibition is accompanied by several events, including Talking Towers: Panacean Towers on the 7 November. This in-depth look at the physical and metaphorical towers of the Panacea Society will be given by Museum Director Zara Matthews. Later in the month on 14 November will be Talking Towers: Towers in the Bible and Apocalyptic Thinking with Professor James Crossley, Academic Director of CenSAMM.
There’s a family-friendly crafty hands-on approach to towers on Saturday, 16 November, as local artist Marisa Straccia will be on hand to help visitors make their own paper collage towers.
The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1563)
The clock tower when it was newly constructed
The Panacea clock tower as it is today
The exhibition is now open and ends on Saturday, 30 November.
The Panacea Museum and CenSAMM have organised this event as part of the nationwide Being Human Festival which promotes events aiming to celebrate and demonstrate the ways in which the humanities inspire and enrich our everyday lives, help us to understand ourselves, our relationships with others, and the challenges we face in a changing world.
Being Human is led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.
Each year the festival invites researchers at universities and other research organisations to collaborate with local community and cultural partners to create exciting and engaging events and projects for all to enjoy.
The Panacea Museum is an activity of The Panacea Charitable Trust, which also provides funding for the Centre for the Critical Study of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements (CenSAMM) based at the University of Cambridge.
The special events listed are free but booking is essential. Please check panaceamuseum.org/events for details.
The Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Road, Bedford MK40 3NX.
The exhibition is free to enter, and open during normal hours, 10am – 4pm Thursday – Saturday (last entry 3.30pm)
