Fundraising: When United Kingdom supports the Terra Sancta Museum in Jerusalem
Pro Terra Sancta UK hosted its launch event April 4th to raise funds to complete the new Terra Sancta museum in the old city of Jerusalem. The museum aims to “Build a bridge of peace”.
London, United Kingdom – 5th April 2019 – Pro Terra Sancta UK, a new UK charity set up to support the work of completing Jerusalem’s new Terra Sancta Museum, housing precious artefacts from over 2000 years of history, yesterday marked its launch with an exclusive event in London which reflected the diverse community of The U.K. “His Grace Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams,” Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain was present alongside representatives of other faiths and supporters of the project.
With the first sections of the museum opened last summer, Pro Terra Sancta UK aims to raise the profile of the new Museum in the U.K. and assist with fundraising to complete the project.
Hidden behind a stone wall in Jerusalem’s Old City is a museum housing precious artefacts dating back thousands of years. The Terra Sancta Museum features coins, mosaics, and unique inscriptions from biblical times. One of the highlights of the collection is a rare half-shekel coin minted by the Jews who revolted against the Romans in 66 CE.
Fundraising has now commenced by the charity where €9 Million is sought to fully complete the project. This will include renovations to the “great hall” built nearly 1,000 years ago and will house further archaeological collections from excavations carried out in conjunction with the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum.
The funding will also enable work to be completed on the Historical museum that will house the rare collections of sculptures, paintings, goldsmith’s work, illuminated manuscripts, Islamic documents and rare firmaments from the Ottoman and Mameluk periods. This exhibition, takes visitors through 800 years of fascinating events: from St. Francis’ pilgrimage, to the establishment of bonds with various kingdoms in Europe; to the focus on educational and charitable initiatives aimed at local communities of different faiths.
Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land said: “The museum is designed not only for pilgrims who wish to rediscover their Christian roots in the Holy Land, but equally for the Israeli and Palestinian population, as well as for Jewish, Christian and Muslim believers, for whom we can demonstrate a common history. Through the museum, we aim to build a bridge of peace.”
It is hoped that additional funds raised will also support the Education programme (which has already welcomed schoolchildren from all the major faiths in Jerusalem; Jewish, Christian and Muslim) and will be able to promote engagement across the faiths.
Christina Rogers, Pro Terra Sancta Trustee said: “We were delighted to see that the diversity of London and the UK was truly represented at the Launch, and it was a great example of how this cultural project brings interested people from different communities together. That spirit of working together is the essence of the project, and I’m looking forward to seeing the new rooms being added to the Museum through UK sponsorship and donations”.
With recent news that visits to UK museums have risen 9%, the charity is hoping the UK will support the fundraising efforts that are an important piece of the huge puzzle of archaeology in the region.
