"Glass discovered at Glastonbury Abbey dates back to 7th century, researchers find" (from medievalists.net) [May 2012]
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| Glastonbury glass discoveries |
Glass furnaces recorded in 1955-7 were previously thought to date from before the Norman Conquest. However, radiocarbon dating has now revealed that they date approximately to the 680s, and are likely to be associated with a major rebuilding of the abbey undertaken by King Ine of Wessex. Glass-making at York and Wearmouth is recorded in historical documents in the 670s but Glastonbury provides the earliest and most substantial archaeological evidence for glass-making in Saxon Britain.
The extensive remains of five furnaces have been identified, together with fragments of clay crucibles and glass for window glazing and drinking vessels, mainly of vivid blue-green colour. It is likely that specialist glassworkers came from Gaul (France) to work at Glastonbury. The glass will be analysed chemically to provide further information on the sourcing and processing of materials.
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William of Malmesbury has much to say about the history of Glastonbury Abbey and demonstrates cautious historical methodology in dating its origin. His position is nicely captured in the excerpt from Geoffrey Ashe's Avalonian Quest.
The question to answer:
"What role did Glastonbury play in the early spread of Christianity in Britain?"
Glastonbury was clearly the central point of British Christianity through the whole of the British Isles. One of the major reasons why it was the central part was because the Christian ideas stayed within the town throughout centuries. Sure they changed in terms of going from Celtic Britain to Anglo-Saxon England, but this unwavering support shows especially to future followers that the religion and its beliefs are highly important to the area. As stated the church had a long history this indicated in how it is referred to as the 'Old Church' giving legitimacy to the religion and thus promoting itself throughout Britain as something that's not new but rather an established form of belief. Furthermore with alleged involvement by Philip the Apostle and how he helped lay the foundations for the church itself, it enables the Glastonbury to back up its claims as the founding place of British Christianity. Overall what I am trying to say is that due to the wide history that Glastonbury has its role in spreading Christianity throughout Britain was that it provided a central for the religion which thus can give legitimacy to the cause and the idea. This is further shown in how Bethlehem a very real place was the birth place of Jesus Christ furthering the story and validity of what the Catholic religion bases its story off.
ReplyDeleteOllie Szymanski (Sorry this aim account is extremely old and was the only thing that would enable me to post this)
Using the analogy of Bethlehem / Glastonbury is very interesting here; particularly since in later legends (?)Glastonbury was the very place where Joseph of Arimathia was reputed to have landed from the Holy Land circa 40 AD
DeleteGlastonbury was well known to be a sacred place from time immemorial. According to Treherne no other house was renowned as being as superior as Glastonbury, it was known to have Saints, Kings and Pilgrims visiting the spot, this indicates that even at a very early date this site was revered. It was a sheltered haven where travellers and adventurers would come, and likely tell of this holy place. This is likely how Christianity was able to be spread through Britain because of the long standing stability of this site and continuity which reassured visitors.
ReplyDeleteBut what was it about Glastonbury that made it an ideal pilgrimage spot?
DeleteAs the first Christian Community in Britain, Glastonbury held the important role of being a physical link to the distant Roman Church. Though we don't know how long the monastery was there before the building of Glastonbury Abbey, the descriptions of William of Malmesbury suggest that it had been there for a few centuries before being re-established by the Saxons. It is possible that over the decades and then centuries, the monastery and the faith associated with it became part of the cultural landscape of Glastonbury. As an established stronghold of Christianity in Britain, Glastonbury served as the necessary point of origin from which Christianity could expand through the passage of pilgrims and saints.
ReplyDeleteGlastonbury functioned as one of the first self contained christian communities. It was not the first example of christianity to come to the isles but, as a stand alone base for christianity, it established a position that could allow for the pilgrims to spread christianity throughout the UK. In that expansion it also provided an example of how a functioning Christian community functions- The Abby producing all the goods that it used (hence being the first glass makers in Britain).
ReplyDeleteGlastonbury played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in Britain because of the mystery of its founding. It was unclear precisely who and when it was built by and the fact that it survived the Ango-Saxon advancement added to its importance. It became the most holy ground in the british isles and this was added to by the pilgrimage and burials of kings and saints over the ages. It had a special role to the spread of Christianity because it gave the British a religious relic which could potentially have been built by the disciples of Christ. (potentially, not likely) It also is a tie between pre-christian britain/roman britain and anglo-saxon christianity.
ReplyDeleteGlastonbury played an essential role in the early spread of Christianity for many reasons. Many of the big churches we lost to the Anglo-Saxon invades as they lay to the east of the island. Glastonbury however, because of its geographical location and the fact it was in an area that was difficult to invade, was able to hold strong and therefore exert it's influence. It had also been there for a very long time and as people had become used to it, and as it was shrouded in mystery, the building was left alone. This meant that Glastonbury Abbey could be seen as a kind of 'head quarters' in Christians eyes, therefore exerting even more influence.
ReplyDelete