A fundraising campaign to save one of the finest tapestries of the 16th Century – personally commissioned by Henry VIII – has reached a major milestone.
The Art Fund, the national charity for art, has pledged an additional £200,000 to the campaign aimed at saving the Burning of the Heathen Books Tapestry for display within the Faith Museum in Bishop Auckland.
If the campaign is successful, the tapestry will be on display to the public in the museum’s Great Gallery in spring 2024.
The tapestry - Saint Paul Directing the Burning of the Heathen Books designed by Pieter Coecke van Aelst - was commissioned by Henry VIII in about 1535, at the time he broke with Rome.
The monumental work, nearly 20ft long and 12ft high, depicts St Paul overseeing the burning of ‘heathen books’ in Ephesus.
Hailed as the ‘Holy Grail of Tudor Tapestry’, it was thought lost for nearly 200 years.
When the tapestry was rediscovered in a private collection in Spain, the Ministry of Culture imposed an export ban preventing it leaving Spain. An overseas sale will only be permitted if the purchaser is a suitable institution with a historic link to the tapestry.
The Auckland Project has until March 2024 to raise £4.1 million in order to acquire the tapestry and ensure its safe return to the UK.
So far, the campaign has received significant public support. A campaign to raise £1 million has now passed the halfway point thanks to a substantial pledge of £200,000 from the Art Fund - alongside donations from over 700 individuals and private organisations.
The Auckland Project will shortly submit a bid of £3.1 million to The National Lottery Heritage Fund to secure the acquisition.
The Auckland Project’s new Faith Museum - which opened on October 7 - explores 6,000 years of faith, and how belief has shaped Britain.
If the campaign is successful, visitors will be able to see the tapestry alongside artefacts closely associated with these tumultuous years - including a rare copy of Tyndale’s New Testament, and a portrait of Sir Thomas More in the last week of his life.
Auckland Castle itself has a historical link to Henry VIII via his advisors Cuthbert Tunstall and Cardinal Wolsey, both Prince Bishops of Durham.
Jenny Waldman, director of art fund, said: “This exquisitely detailed tapestry is the only surviving example of nine tapestries commissioned by Henry VIII. We have a unique opportunity to bring it back to the UK after being considered lost for almost 200 years.
“I can’t think of a better home for this monumental tapestry than The Auckland Project’s new Faith Museum, and I’m delighted we’ve been able to support their campaign to acquire it, building on a decade of support for the charity.
"This has only been possible thanks to Art Fund's generous donors and members, who I urge to visit The Auckland Project."
Jonathan Ruffer, Founder of The Auckland Project, added: “There is perhaps no better place to see the national impact of Art Fund than at The Auckland Project venues.
"The generosity of its members and staff have been pivotal in the growth of our collections and the work in our community. Their contribution to our tapestry campaign is typical of their nature - swift, substantial, unstinting.
"Every member has been part of something wonderful, and we hope to welcome you all here. I hope, however, not all on the same day.”
In addition to the generous, early support from Art Fund, public support for the tapestry campaign has been building locally and nationally, from regional businesses to individual members of the public signing their support, and public figures including the Archbishop of Canterbury urging the tapestry to be saved.
To support the campaign to bring the tapestry to the Faith Museum, visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/tapestry
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