King’s Lynn Minster hosting exhibition highlighting domestic abuse

Lynn Minster is hosting a ‘Souls of our Shoes’ exhibition as part of a campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse.

The exhibition will be taking place throughout this month and is open daily from 8.30am– 6pm, and entry is free.

In 2022, the Mothers’ Union launched its worldwide ‘Rise Up against Domestic Abuse’ campaign highlighting the prevalence of the issue.

The Norwich Diocese decided that ‘Souls of our Shoes’, a British initiative, will enable churches across the Diocese to open up the subject of abuse to members of their congregations and the general public.

Each pair of shoes in a Souls of our Shoes display has with it a statement made by an abuse victim.

The shoes represent the act of leaving home – the resolve to accept that things are not going to change and the only way out is to put on a pair of shoes and walk away.

The display in Lynn Minster sees shoes placed randomly on the pews, highlighting that victims sit among us everyday, and that we do not know who they might be.

In addition to the shoes, there is a display and literature on how to access support with cards that can be taken away.

The Bishop of Thetford, The Rt Revd Ian Bishop, said: “For anyone living with domestic abuse the immense pain, both physical and emotional, is a daily trauma and a scourge on our society.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to ‘rise up’ against domestic abuse and gender-based violence.

“I fully support the Mother’s Union projects including ‘Souls of our Shoes’ that raise awareness, challenge and inform and empower victims.

“I really hope this campaign will transform attitudes and behaviours and help to end abuse forever.”