Have you ever been to Glastonbury? Magical, mystical land of legends. Is it really King Arthur’s Avalon? Is it where the early Christians sought refuge and spread the word of Christ? Did Joseph of Arimathea come here?
Much speculation surrounds these topics and I find them fascinating. The Domesday book records in folio 90 the twelve hides of land that have never paid tax and referred to as Home of God. The Domesday book also records an entry that the Abbey chapel contains the Secretum Domini, “Secret of the Lord”, The land was granted by King Arvigarus to Joseph of Arimathea and his eleven companions. Each having one hide of land, 120 acres.
Legend links King Arthur with Joseph of Arimathea. It is said that Arthur believed that Joseph brought with him from the Holy Land a cup containing the blood and sweat of Christ. Thus the legend of the Holy Grail. We will of course never really know if the stories are all true but it does give you pause for thought and makes for interesting story telling. There are so many ancient stories regarding Christianity in Glastonbury and Iona that one would think there must be a kernel of truth.
Like the isle of Iona, Glastonbury is and always will be a land of mystery.
