Today's Object of the Week is a rare survivor linked to one of the most significant moments in English history, with only a handful of copies known to exist worldwide.
A small book that authorities once tried to destroy is now one of the rarest and most influential volumes in the world.
A 1536 edition of William Tyndale's English New Testament, one of only a handful of known surviving copies, is currently on display in Bishop Auckland.
Its importance lies not only in its rarity but in the impact it had on religion, politics and the English language.
Five hundred years ago, the idea of ordinary people reading the Bible in English was highly controversial.
In England, the Bible was widely available only in Latin, a language understood by clergy and scholars but inaccessible to many people.
Tyndale believed everyone should be able to read the scriptures in their own language.
Working from the original Hebrew and Greek texts, he produced a translation of the New Testament in English.
His work brought him into direct conflict with both Church and State.
English translations of the Bible were banned and Tyndale was forced to leave the country in order to continue his work and arrange publication.
Copies of the book were smuggled into England from mainland Europe, often hidden in sacks of cloth.
Church authorities viewed the translation as a threat and launched efforts to find and destroy copies.
Among those opposed to Tyndale's translation was Cuthbert Tunstall, then Bishop of London and later Bishop of Durham.
In 1526 he publicly burned copies of the English New Testament outside St Paul's Cathedral.
Despite those efforts, some copies survived.
The edition being displayed in Bishop Auckland's Faith Museum was produced during Tyndale's lifetime and is one of very few known examples remaining anywhere in the world.
Tyndale would not live to see his work accepted. He was arrested, convicted of heresy, and eventually strangled and burned at the stake for his beliefs.
However, his translation continued to influence later English Bibles and played a significant role in the English Reformation.
Its impact extended beyond religion. Many words and phrases associated with everyday English were popularised through Tyndale's translation.
Expressions including "the apple of his eye", "eat, drink and be merry", "the signs of the times", "let there be light" and "give up the ghost" remain in common use centuries later.
The exhibition explores Tyndale's life and the story behind the translation, alongside a collection of rare 16th-century Bibles.
For more information about the exhibition and associated events, visit The Auckland Project website: https://aucklandproject.org/ to plan your visit.
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Dr Lydia Prosser, curator at The Auckland Project, said: "This is a unique opportunity for visitors to see a rare edition of a book that changed the course of history.
"We're excited to showcase our copy of Tyndale's New Testament in an exhibition that presents the turbulent context in which it was produced and explores its continued relevance 500 years later."
The exhibition runs until December 31 and is the only place in the North East where visitors can see an edition of Tyndale's New Testament produced during his lifetime as part of the 500th anniversary year.
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