As part of its commitment to the local area, the Faith Museum, part of heritage attraction and regeneration charity The Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland, is hosting a ‘Community Day’ on Sunday 3rd November.
On this day, tickets to the recently opened Faith Museum are free for visitors, with a range of other activities taking place in The Auckland Project’s free-to-access venues including No. 42 and Auckland Tower.
The occasion also marks the unveiling of the ‘Mother of Mercy’ (2019) banner created by artist Helen Elwes, which will be on display to the public in Auckland Tower until 22nd November.
In 2019, Helen Elwes painted the ‘Mother of Mercy’ image on a banner to be used as a rallying sign for pilgrims and designed it in the style of traditional medieval processional banners which were painted on canvas. The banner is a response to climate change, damage to the natural world and species facing extinction.
Since then, ‘Mother of Mercy’, set in the burning Amazon Rainforest with endangered animals in the foreground, has been on many climate marches, prayer vigils and pilgrimages for the planet across the UK. This includes a journey to the G7 summit in Cornwall in 2021 and a 200-mile walk on the ‘Camino to COP’ from Bristol to Glasgow for the COP26 Climate Conference.
As Climate Conference COP29 begins, climate pilgrims are taking a three-day ‘Pilgrimage for the Planet’ walking on ‘The Way of Life’, one of the Northern Saints’ Trails in the county. The ‘Mother of Mercy’ banner will be carried from Durham Cathedral to Bishop Auckland, culminating in a procession in the Faith Garden on The Auckland Project’s ‘Community Day’ on Sunday 3rd November at 12.30pm. Everyone is welcome to join the procession.
“The Auckland Project is rooted in faith and community. As the historic home of the Prince Bishops, Auckland Palace is situated on ancient pilgrimage routes that have been in use for centuries. Today, ‘The Way of Life’ route passes through Bishop Auckland connecting with the other Northern Saints Trails. This weekend we look forward to welcoming visitors and pilgrims as part of our autumn ‘Community Day’.
“We’re keen to showcase many varied pieces of art and Helen’s ‘Mother of Mercy’ highlights endangered or critically endangered species including polar bears, leopards, pangolin and tigers that are being embraced by the Virgin Mary, which shows great synergy with themes explored in the Faith Museum.”
Clare Baron, Head of Exhibitions at The Auckland Project
The free tickets for the ‘Community Day’ can be booked via The Auckland Project’s website: www.aucklandproject.org/event/community-open-day/
