Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunedin general manager Gerald Scanlan applied for $2111 plus GST from the community board project fund to buy a display cabinet to store historical artefacts owned by the diocese, including embroidered vestments, crucifixes and bibles.
In the Downes Room at Mosgiel Service Centre last week, Mr Scanlan told the board the diocese wanted to create a museum at the Mosgiel Holy Cross College in Mosgiel to display the artefacts.
The facility could create a ''tourism landscape'' in Mosgiel and attract cruise ship passengers to the town, he said.
Burns Lodge at Holy Cross Centre business manager Clinton Chambers said the public ''interfaith museum'' would detail how Dunedin was shaped by the religions of the city's early settlers.
''We are drawing on the artefacts the Catholic Church has in storage but we are also inviting other major religions in Dunedin to contribute to the museum on their history in Dunedin.''
Although it was at a ''concept stage'', he hoped the museum would act as an ''anchor'' to create a religious history tour of Dunedin. The tour would be promoted to the cruise ship market and school groups.
He also planned to hold an interfaith festival to celebrate spiritual diversity.
Board chairman Bill Feather congratulated Mr Chambers on the initiative.
Board member Sarah Nitis said she thought the idea was ''fabulous''.
Board member Blackie Catlow and councillor Kate Wilson said more information was required.
The board declined the request but then voted to issue a letter of support to the diocese in principle of the concept of the museum and to support it on a feasibility study.
