"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 Glass-making at York and Wearmouth is recorded in historical documents in the 670s but Glastonbury provides the earliest and most substantial archaeological evidence for glass-making in Saxon Britain.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?"
Although is it not possible to precisely date Glastonbury, it is generally accepted as the first secure Christian shelter in Britain. As the pioneer monastery and the first native Christian institution, this is the place that allowed Christianity to take off in Britain. Glastonbury contains multiple religious relics, houses remains of various saints and William of Malmesbury even suggests that it contains a holy secret. It is also the only Christian site with unbroken continuity from Celtic Britain into Anglo-Saxon England.
ReplyDeleteAll agreed. So, "what role did Glastonbury play in the early spread of Christianity in Britain?"
DeleteOoo, one of our reader questions. Easy done.
ReplyDeleteI wrote that according to Geoffrey Ashe, Glastonbury did not have a wide ranging influence in the spread of Christianity throughout Europe, and rather that it was a survivor. Despite being a monastic centre and a place of worship, it was not a mission centre for spreading Christianity. Despite the church being older than pervasive Christianity in Europe, Christianity grew around the Church, and was not in any huge respect spurred on by it's presence. However, despite this Glastonbury (according to Ashe) can still hold the undisputed title of oldest religious house in Europe.
Good answer! Can you explain why Ashe takes this position?
DeleteThis comment is from Zach Littmann:
ReplyDeleteGlastonbury is the oldest known Church in Britain and holds the unique title of being used in both Celtic Britain and Anglo-Saxon England. Glastonbury itself was considered as beyond holy when compared to other buildings of worship. As is stated by William Malmesbury "the custom of swearing by it as the most solemn oath". Summarily, what gave Glastonbury such relevance and power is that all people in Britain, despite origin, could agree that this was a holy and uniting place as well as a centre with origins and content were filled with mystery and godliness
This is a perceptive understanding of the reading but does not focus on answering the question which is "What role did Glastonbury play in the early spread of Christianity in Britain?"
DeleteChristianity, as any other new religion, took over established sacred places in Britain, and Glastonbury was one of those places. The Old Church was one of the spiritual and community centres, the solemn oath, where the legends and stories could take place; it was the place which was recognised as the holiest Earth of England: “Always it was said to have been there when they came…they had gathered at Glastonbury because of it”. Therefore, that’s the place where Christianity has started and spread over Britain. Moreover, Glastonbury might be an important hallmark in the spread of Christianity as this was the place where Joseph of Arimathea came on a mission after Christ’s crucifixion. Moreover, Glastonbury can be considered as the important trade and port route, thus making it easier for the new religion to spread over (e.g., the beginning of the community). Also, under Glastonbury Tor, “Christianity found its first shelter”.
ReplyDeleteMaria Soloveva (22504079).
Could you say a little more about the nature of the established sacred place that Glastonbury was before Christianity?
DeleteGlastonbury even before this point was a focus of the religion of the area. As such by converting it into a site of christianity it could spread along these already existing ties. Due to it's location any attempt to route this spread was virtually impossible and it remained an effective stronghold for the chrsitian faith as any invaders that would have seen it destoyed were often converted by the time they reached that point. While Glasontbury did not part take in missionary activities it did create folowers of those who passed through it and allowed for the spread of at the very least monasticism along the existing religious lines. And from this conversion of the general populace occured. Also this can be seen as key in removing the oppoition to christianity by the former religious beleifes of the area. Due to it's centre as a religious site it was also heavily involved in trade and thus furthered the spread of the chrisitna agenda and allowed for a foothold to reclaim britain upon being pushed back by other religious groups.
ReplyDeleteWhat were these other religious groups?
Delete