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A Visit To Glastonbury
Excerpts from the diary of a student-pilgrim to Glastonbury Abbey, England, during the month of May, 1948
These lines are penned as we sit by the side of the holy well, in which the Holy Grail was placed by Joseph Arimathea when he visited England after the crucifixion of Jesus. This well is situated in a secluded corner of an old English garden at the foot of what is called "Chalice Hill." We stopped here on our way down the steep hillside and were glad to rest after climbing the high eminence of Tor Hill, in order to look at the stone edifice on its summit. This edifice commemorates the martyrdom of the last abbot of the abbey, at the time it was pillaged and destroyed by order of the Crown, many centuries ago.
The house and garden are now used as a boys' school and one must enter the house in order to visit the garden, for which they charge the small sum of one shilling. The well is situated in a secluded corner and has a bronze covering, which is held in place by a stout lock and key. The custodian undid the lock and raised the cover, so that we might look inside. He told us that the well is said to be built two hundred ears B.C. and is of the same architecture as the pyramids, with the difference that this well is built below the surface of the earth.
He also said that no matter how dry the surrounding country gets, this spring gushes forth at the rate of 25,000 gallons of water per day. Besides the well, it feeds a large swimming pool for the boys and then meanders off down the hill, blessing man and beast and nature as it flows.
He showed us a bronze plaque, outlining the legend of the Holy Grail, telling of Joseph's visit and how he placed the cup in the well for safekeeping, until he would come again and claim it himself, or send a trusted messenger. It is said that this Holy Grail, or cup, cannot be seen by the eyes of the profane. The garden and well are not the property of the abbey custodians today, as they are about a mile from the ruins, but in days long past, all of the country hereabouts was owned by the monks. The ruins of the abbey are surrounded by a high stone fence and only the walls of the different buildings are standing. These are all covered with English ivy; the grass all around is a vivid green and to see the place bathed in the sunlight of a glorious May day was a never-to-be-forgotten treat for the tired senses. Part of the legend of the place is that Saint Patrick was abbot here once and we visited the little stone chapel (still in use) where he used to reside at divine worship. It is said that a company of Druid priests lived at that time on the summit of Tor Mount and that Saint Patrick learned many of their secrets, which helped him in the conversion of pagan Ireland somewhat later. It is part of the story that when his mission to Ireland was finished, he returned to Glastonbury, where he spent his declining years and is buried in one of the vaults of the abbey.
Legend also says that King Arthur established his court here and the open grave in which he and Guinevere were said to be buried may be seen on the grounds. It is said that when the grave was opened their bodies were in a fair state of preservation and that Guinevere's long golden hair had grown down over their forms, but when the air touched them, they crumbled into dust.
At least, that is the story they tell. We also looked at what is said to be the exact spot where Sir Bedivere (one of Arthur's knights) cast the sword "Excalibur" into the lake at the dying King's request. The lake has long since dried up and the site is now a green cow pasture.
In the abbey grounds may be seen, also, the pink hawthorn tree which grew from Joseph of Arimathea's staff, which he struck into the ground and forgot. The tree blooms at Christmas time and again in the Spring. Joseph, himself, is supposed to have died and been buried here, and, the sarcophagus which held his remains is reverently preserved in a prominent place in Saint John's Chapel, in the town proper.
These are only a few of the many interesting things in and about this hallowed spot.
The above article is from
The Bridge to Freedom Journal January 1953
Reprinted by the AMTF as:
Bridge to Freedom Journal Book 1
Pages 118 - 120
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