Why should there be a British Society for the Turin Shroud?

People sometimes express surprise that a British Society for the Turin Shroud should still exist. After all, according to press reports that went round the world in October 1988 radiocarbon dating tests 'proved' that the Shroud is a fake. It is therefore easily supposed that any surviving 'Shroud' society must be dominated by die-hard Roman Catholics besotted with relics and immune to scientific truth and reason.

In reality up to the radiocarbon news the Society's modest membership remained remarkably constant since its inception in November 1977. The number fell briefly after 1988, but today the total number of members world-wide is higher than ever before. Furthermore its officers and members include doctors, pathologists, chemists, physicists, genealogists, teachers, lawyers, photographers, artists, sculptors, historians, and many more. Geographically there are members on every continent, with nearly one third resident outside the UK. Religious viewpoints range from Jewish to agnostic. All those with a genuine interest in the Shroud are eligible as members of the Society - whatever views they hold on the topic, and whatever their religious standpoint.

Authentic or Non-Authentic: the Society's Neutrality

Constitutionally the Society has no 'party-line' on the Shroud, either for or against its authenticity. The prevalent view among members is simply that the carbon dating result has deepened rather than explained the Shroud mystery. If the dating to the 14th century is accepted, there remains no unanimity how the 'photographic' image could have been created at that time, whether artistically, e.g. by some unknown painter, or by some ingenious artificer, perhaps even using a specially crucified dead body. If the carbon dating is rejected, say in favour of a first century date, still to be explained is how such a scientifically conducted test could have produced such a major error. Not least of this same mystery is how and why carbon dating should have pinpointed the very century in which the historical evidence is strongest for the Shroud having been produced fraudulently.

The Society's rôle therefore remains, as it has been from its inception, to act as a forum for individuals from all walks of life sharing an interest in the Shroud mystery, and quietly to help with any information requested from the general public and from the media. All officers of the Society work on an entirely voluntary basis. Members' subscriptions help pay for the printing and postage costs of the Newsletter published twice a year, and for the Secretary's expenses. Approximately twice a year (depending on topicality and speaker availability), lectures are held in London during which visiting speakers keep members informed on the latest developments in Shroud research. Members' subscriptions also subsidise the cost of these meetings, and they are usually tape-recorded for the benefit of overseas members and those otherwise unable to attend.

Overseas Links

The BSTS is recognised by the Turin ecclesiastical authorities, the Centro Internazionale di Sindonologia of Turin, the Collegamento pro Sindone of Rome, the US Holy Shroud Guild, the US Shroud of Turin Research Project, the Turin Shroud Center of Colorado, C.I.E.L.T. of France, Australia's Shroud group, and other Shroud organisations around the world. The Society's officers and many of its members maintain a lively correspondence with those actively involved in research on the Shroud, and one or more representatives of the Society usually attend any major international conference on the subject.

Shroud Photographs and Slides

Still among the best available photographs of the Shroud are those taken in black and white by the Italian photographer Giuseppe Enrie in 1931. Current details of prints from these now available in the UK can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to David Armitage, The Old Coach House, Greyhound Lane, Winslow, Bucks, MK18 3EB.

Shroud Films and Video Recordings

VHS Videocassettes of the award-winning Shroud film The Silent Witness are available for purchase, price £19.50 + £1.85 post and packing (overseas orders extra), on application to D.W. amd J.Rolfe, Partners, c/o The Performance Group, Suite 1, Gregory's Court, Gregory's Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP9 1HQ. Tel: 01494-670505. Fax: 01494-672263. Cheques/P.O's should be crossed and made payable to D.W. & J.Rolfe Partners.

Tape Recordings of Shroud Lectures

Because the Society's membership is scattered throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, it is recognised that it is impractical for many members to attend the Society's lectures held in London. Accordingly most meetings are tape-recorded and cassettes made available for purchase. Past meetings for which these can be obtained include:

11. Sept.1980 - Walter McCrone: 'A Microanalyst and the Shroud'
3 April 1981 - Peter Freeland: No title
26 Nov. 1982 - Prof Luigi Gonella: 'The 1978 Shroud Testing' (2 cassettes)
12 May 1983 - Victor Tunkel: 'A Jewish View of the Shroud'
20 July 1984 - Dr Alan Adler: 'Chemistry and the Shroud Image'
25, Oct. 1985 - Dr Frederick Zugibe: 'A Medical Examiner and the Shroud'
16. Oct. 1987 - Anna Hulbert: 'The Templecombe Panel and the Shroud'
5 May 1988 - Ian Wilson: 'The Hospice Mattress'
17 Nov. 1988 - Dr Michael Tite and others: Carbon Dating Forum
18 Oct. 1989 - Ian Dickinson & Ian Wilson: 'The Cubit & the Shroud'
17 Oct. 1990 - Sheila Landi: 'Textile Conservation and the Shroud'
3 April 1991 - Ian Wilson: 'The Veronica and the Shroud'
23 Oct. 1991 - Dr Allan Mills: 'The Russell Effect & the Shroud Image'
23 Nov. 1992 - Isabel Piczek: 'A Professional Artist and the Shroud'
28 April 1993 - Dr Michael Clift: 'The Patient in the Shroud - A Doctor's Reflections'
20 Oct. 1993 - Deirdre O'Sullivan: 'St Bees & A Real 14th Century Shroud'
27 April 1994 - Lennox Manton: 'Christ Images from Cappadocia' (2)
26 April 1995 - Dr Kitty Little: 'The Turin Shroud: How was the Image formed?'
Undated - Nick White: 'Carbon dating work at Oxford'
Undated - Prof Cameron and Dr Lunt: 'Medical Opinions on the Shroud'

Copies of these, price £4 per cassette inc. p&p (overseas orders £6) can be obtained from David Armitage (address above)

Membership Applications

The current standard membership fee, inclusive of two Newsletters, is £8, with a £2 reduction for Senior Citizens, students, and others reasonably entitled to concessionary rates. Applications should be accompanied by the sender's full name, address, post code, and telephone number (where applicable). Cheques should be crossed and made payable to the British Society for the Turin Shroud (the initials BSTS will do). For overseas members the annual fee is £15 or US $ 25, and because of the high cost of currency conversion sterling is greatly preferred if at all possible. All membership enquiries should be addressed to the General Secretary:

Dr Michael Clift
9 Glevum Close, Longlevens, Gloucester GL2 9JJ

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