CHURCH leaders from west Wiltshire invited to a special screening of Mel Gibson's epic film The Passion of the Christ have hailed it a masterpiece that "could change your life".

Written and directed by Gibson it tells the story of Jesus' crucifixion and has sparked a debate between religious groups in the US.

Some call it an epic and one of the most offensive films ever made.

Members of America's Jewish community have slammed it for painting Jews in a sinister light and blaming them for Jesus' death.

But Gibson has denied charges of anti-Semitism and says the script for the film was based solely on what was written in the New Testament.

Paul Ivory, pastor at AGAPE Community Church, Trowbridge, attended an advance screening of the film in Cardiff last week ahead of its UK release on March 26.

He said he thought the film presented a great opportunity for the Christian church to spread its word.

He said: "It is very difficult to put into words the overall feeling of this film other than I believe that the church has an opportunity to stop worrying about surveys that show statistically that membership is on the way down and do something about it.

"What Gibson is portraying is that the actions of 2,000 years ago changed the world.

"I thought it was extremely violent but then the punishment dealt in those days was.

"The world is full of pictures of a white Jesus who hovers around above ground level generally with a halo and accompanied by an adoring crowd. The reality is that the Jesus I know and love was a real person who felt.

"The flogging in the film was horrible and only surpassed by the crucifixion.

"I felt under everything Gibson achieved the deep love that Jesus had for those He was trying to reach."

The Reverend Peter English, assistant priest at St James Church, Trowbridge, said he would go and see the film at the cinema even though many of the scenes are horrifying.

He said: "I have only read reports about what the film is like but we cannot try to sanitise what happened to Jesus it was a nasty public execution. I would definitely see the film just to see what it is like, even if I thought it would make me angry because I disagreed with some of it."

Pastor Stephen Wood of the Foundation Christian Fellowship, Warminster, attended a preview of the film at Cribbs Causeway, Bristol.

He said: "This is an excellent film which portrays the most important event in human history in graphic detail.

"Having studied the biblical account of the life and death of Jesus, I can verify how horrifyingly accurate this film is. It is, to say the least, uncomfortable seeing such pain inflicted on an innocent man.

"I would recommend that every adult see the film at least once, with the warning that it could change your life."

Pastor Una Davis, of Bethel United Church, Trowbridge, has seen clips on TV and hopes to see the film when it comes out.

She said: "It is a brilliant film from the Christian perspective which portrays what we believe took place, as it is described in the Bible."

The film has topped the US charts since its release last month and the film has already taken around £146m.

Devout Catholic James Caviezel, who plays Jesus in the film, was blessed by the Pope at the Vatican on Monday.