A two-metre model of the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus - complete with a smoking altar - is part of an exhibition designed to bring the Bible to life.

St Paul’s Church in St Albans will be hosting the new exhibition, which will include a Sabbath candlestick, a Passover plate, Jewish prayer shawls and a collection of Middle Eastern clothing, some of which dates back 150 years.

Other exhibits include a large scale model of the desert tabernacle where worship took place during the Jewish people’s wanderings after their exodus from Egypt.

Exhibition organiser Helen Chilton said: “It’s great that we’ve been able to host this important exhibition. We want to help local people understand the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, and to see something of the world that Jesus would have known and seen around him.

“After coming to the exhibition, we hope visitors will read the Bible with renewed interest. They will have seen and experienced so many important places and objects described in the Old and New Testaments.”

The exhibition runs today from 7pm to 9pm, on Saturday from 10am to 4pm, on Sunday from 3pm to 5pm and on Monday from 3.30pm to 5pm. Admission is free.

The church is located at the corner of Hatfield Road and Blandford Road.

For more information call the St Paul’s Church on 01727 846281.