Glastonbury Abbey

United Kingdom / England / Glastonbury / Magdalene Street
 ruins, religion, monastery
Magdalene Street
Glastonbury BA6 9EL, United Kingdom
phone: +44 (0)1458 832267
www.glastonburyabbey.com/

Supposed final resting place of The Holy Grail, also claims to be the oldest above-ground Christian church in the world. Legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea created the first church on this site, which later became the abbey. There is even speculation that Jesus visited Glastonbury with his uncle, Joseph. In the medieval period, the site was associated with King Arthur and a carefully-staged "discovery" of the supposed bodies of Arthur and Guinevere turned the Abbey into a wealthy pilgrimage destination. By the 16th century, Glastonbury Abbey was one of the most powerful landowners in the country and its Abbots leading figures in national political life. The jealousy of Henry VIII led to the destruction of the Abbey from 1539 onwards. The last Abbot was hanged for resistance to the king and the buildings became a stone quarry until later generations recognised their historical and picturesque values.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glastonbury_Abbey
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   51°8'44"N   2°42'50"W

Comments

  • And this speculation led to the words of the song 'Jerusalem': "And did those feet in ancient times walk upon England's mountains green?" The "mountains" here would refer to Wearyall Hill, or to the Isle of xxxxxx (Glastonbury) in its entirety.
This article was last modified 6 years ago