It’s been 10 years in the making, and countless challenges have been encountered along the way, but we’ve kept the faith, and now it’s finally ready – the Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland opens to the public on 7 October 2023.
The Faith Museum is part of the wider restoration and redevelopment of The Auckland Project, which has been made possible with a £12.4m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Leading visitors on a journey through British history, the museum comprises a series of dynamic gallery spaces with an active programme of rotating displays and temporary exhibitions.The Faith Museum explores the myriad ways in which faith has shaped lives and communities across Britain through rarely-seen objects, national treasures, personal testimonies and contemporary commissions.
Walking through galleries housed in the 14th-century Scotland Wing of Auckland Castle, a never-before-displayed object found less than a mile from the Castle is one of the smallest and most remarkable items on show: the Binchester Ring. Excavated in 2014 at the Roman Fort Vinovium, this extraordinary silver ring with carved carnelian stone featuring images of an anchor and fish is rare early evidence of Christianity in Britain.
The Faith Museum is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Jerusalem Trust.
For more information, please visit the Auckland Project's website.