The Art & Architecture Group visited the Museum on Friday 1st March, soon after its initial opening. You are aware of something new in the Auckland Project once you enter the park from the market square and pass under the Robinson Arch. On your left is a most elegant stone building with little fenestration other than a single large rectangular window overlooking the walled gardens. This is the Faith Museum. Entering via the Palace we assembled in the Palace’s Old Library where Clare Baron, the Auckland Project’s Head Curator gave a concise history of the vision behind the creation of the museum: faith not religion. Then posed a series of questions which underpin all of the displays: why are we here, and with what intent? It was suggested that each of us would wish to use the visit in different ways: some would wish to hold on to the timeline while others would focus on specific exhibits. Then Claire mentioned certain items of specific local interest which she felt must not be missed. There are local artefacts arising from excavations within the Palace grounds and others found locally within the region e.g. the Binchester ring, the carved stone head, the small crucifix, made you reflect upon the lives of past residents in our locality. The lighting of the display at the end of the corridor of the cross which came from Lindisfarne took my breath away The Museum is on two floors and the upper floor contains galleries for temporary exhibitions, the second gallery currently contains an installation called ‘Eidolon’ by artist and photographer Matt Collishaw of an iris engulfed by flames and yet not consumed by them. This references the story in the book of Daniel when three Christian men refuse to worship a golden image of King Nebuchadnezzar and are thrown into a fiery furnace but, after the appearance of an angel, they pass through unharmed