The Pilgrimage begins at Glastonbury.
It be claimed as the first church - the “Old Church of Glastonbury” - dedicated to the Virgin Mary in England. It the first house reformed by St Dunstan with the support of King Edmund I and King Eadgar, both of whom were buried there, and in the case of the latter with a local cult. His coronation on Whitsunday 973 nearby at Bath is the first English coronation for which we have a detailed account, and in essence it is the same rite as will be celebrated at Westminster on May 6th this year. I have seen it argued that one of the influences in choosing the design of the Cosmati pavement in Westminster Abbey that will be visible for the first time at a coronation in a very long time this coming week was the paving of the Old Church at Glastonbury. The article concerned can be seen at Little Spheres of Prophecy : Glastonbury, flooring, and the reign of Henry III.
Glastonbury is also bound up with the medieval development of the legend of King Arthur, who was believed to be buried there. His tomb was visited by both King Edward I and King Edward III and both were monarchs strongly influenced by the chivalric cult which looked so often to Arthurian themes.
The tomb of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere along with the whole abbey was to be a major casualty of the abuse of royal power by King Henry VIII
The Glastonbury Thorn was something that survived that orgy of destruction and sprigs of it were sent as a Christmas gift to King James I, arguing at that time tor British exceptionalism as a Christian realm. The sending of that gift to the monarch was revived in the twentieth century.
When you visit the remains of the abbey to the side of the ruins of the Lady Chapel is a plain cross in wood given by the late Queen who thought there should be such a testimony to the Christian faith on so holy a site.
The post and its links can be read at Marian Pilgrimage - Our Lady of Glastonbury
Our Lady of Glastonbury pray for The King and The Queen and for us all
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