A fundraising campaign to save one of the finest tapestries of the 16th century – personally commissioned by Henry VIII – has reached a major milestone thanks to the support of Art Fund, the national charity for art. If the campaign is successful the tapestry will be on display to the public in the Faith 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 around 1535, at the time he broke with Rome. The monumental work, almost 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 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 7 October 2023 – explores 6,000 years of faith, and how belief has shaped Britain. Visitors will therefore be able to see the tapestry within the historical circumstances of its commissioning and alongside artefacts closely associated with these tumultuous years: a rare copy of Tyndale’s New Testament, and a portrait of Sir Thomas More in the last week of his life, for example. Auckland Castle itself has a historical link to Henry VIII via his advisors Cuthbert Tunstall and Cardinal Wolsey, both Prince Bishops of Durham.

The milestone donation from Art Fund marks the latest chapter in nearly a decade of support for The Auckland Project, which has enabled the acquisition of exceptional art and the provision of inspiring experiences for people from all walks of life. Six major works have been acquired for the Spanish Gallery with support from Art Fund including El Greco’s ‘Christ on the Cross’ and the delicate ‘Study of a Spanish Crucifix’ by Sargent. These works form the backbone of what is now the greatest display of Golden Age Spanish art in Britain outside London, accompanied by works on loan from prestigious international collections.

Support has extended beyond physical artworks, to fund dynamic projects exploring The Auckland Project’s collections in novel ways. Art Fund supported ‘Missing Women’ at Auckland Castle in 2023, a participatory project inspired by a group of paintings by Zurbarán depicting Jacob and his twelve sons. Local girls, including from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, undertook a project to research the women who go unseen in the pictures: Jacob’s wives, daughters and concubines.

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 with their National Art Pass to discover its many sites and a marvellous collection of art and objects – which I hope will soon be joined by this.”

Jonathan Ruffer, Founder of The Auckland Project, said:

“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.

Sutherland Forsyth, Associate Director of Heritage & Engagement at the Auckland Project, said:

“Bishop Auckland is one of the many examples of how arts and engagement play a vital role in regeneration – providing not only new jobs, training and volunteer opportunities, but new exposure to creativity, art and culture. Art Fund is an excellent partner, enabling celebration of the rich history of Bishop Auckland through unique cultural experiences, bringing visitors to this special town where they can, in turn, help spur economic growth. Art Fund has, for 120 years, worked to help enrich the UK’s museum and gallery collections, and to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy and benefit from them. There might be no better place to see the impact of that commitment than in Bishop Auckland, on a gallery, a town and a community. The Spanish Gallery, along with the Mining Art Gallery and Auckland Castle, are free to all Art Fund members."

To show your support for this campaign and do your bit to bring the tapestry to the Faith Museum, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/tapestry