"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 Glass-making at York and Wearmouth is recorded in historical documents in the 670s but Glastonbury provides the earliest and most substantial archaeological evidence for glass-making in Saxon Britain.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?"
Whilst he establishes that Glastonbury Abbey has a history that could ‘possibly’ stretch as far back as the second, or even first century CE, Geoffrey Ashe asserts the difficulty with which any conclusions may be drawn about its history prior to Saxon occupation in the mid-seventh century.
ReplyDeleteFrom the evidence presented it would seem that Glastonbury’s primary role in the spread of Christianity in Britain was in providing a continuous Monastic presence between the Romano-Briton early centuries through until post-Saxon-conversion times.
Although the Abbey may have once held evidence of a longer history, William of Malmesbury’s dating of a Christian mission to the Second century seems reasonable. On the facts presented we cannot make reasonable conclusions of a Christian presence that far preceed Tertullian’s 200CE dating of Christianity in the isles, as Bede’s is an “inflated tale” of Lucius, and because of the highly polemic perspective of Gildas’s writings. We certainly cannot use Glastonbury to verify the notional beginning of various Grail legends.
absolutely right on the money Joey. It's a shame about the debunking of the Grail legends though, isn't it?
DeleteThere is both fascination and historiographical debate surrounding Glastonbury's role in the early spread of Christianity in Britain. Glastonbury is considered the “cradle of Christianity” by Dunning. This image paints Glastonbury as the early foundations and initial success of Christianity in Britain. The monastery at Glastonbury was a continuous presence from Romano-Briton times to after Saxon-conversions that showed the strength of Christianity. Therefore Glastonbury may be the beginnings of Christianity in Britain and may have ensured Christianity did not die off in Britain. Also, according to Ashe, if the beginnings of Christianity in Britain were at Glastonbury then the dating of its monastery may help explain how and when early Christianity spread to Britain. Therefore Glastonbury's role in the early spread of Christianity was as the “cradle of Christianity”.
ReplyDeleteFine response Sarah
DeleteThe role Glastonbury Abbey played in the early spread of Christianity in Britain is debatable and unlikely to ever be more than just speculation. The ‘forensic’ history of the church indicates that it was present at the latest by the 680s, due to radio-carbon dating of glass found at the site. However, this has been suggested as a re-building of the abbey by King Ine and therefore points to an earlier date for its original construction. Treharne argues that the invading Saxons found a Celtic monastery “established and flourishing” at Glastonbury in 658. The “first and oldest” perhaps, but was it influential in spreading Christianity in Britain? If Christianity in Britain did branch out from Glastonbury, are there contemporary examples near by where other monasteries were set up? Perhaps the main role that it played was tied up in its continuity as a Christian community for many centuries; as an unbroken presence, not necessarily a growing one.
ReplyDeleteIt is generally accepted that Glastonbury was the first Christian community in Britain. If this is indeed the case, as early documents and archaeological evidence would seem to suggest, then its role in the spreading of Christianity in early Britain was vital to its future success as it provided a stable base for missionaries of that faith to retreat to and set out from on their mission to convert the people of that country to their faith. The fact that this missionary settlement was tolerated by the locals for so long also may suggest that the missionaries were relatively successful in their mission – for, surely, they could not have maintained their residence there for so long if the locals rejected their attempts at conversion.
ReplyDeleteGlatonbury played a major role in the early spread of Christianity due to the fact it was the anchor for Christinaity in Britain. Other monestries had upheld the christian ideals, however none for as long as Glastonbury. Glastonbury was very lickly "the first native institution" and definatly the "first that survived". Glastonbury stood apart from its contempories not only because of its large collection of relics, but also because of its "provocative legend-weaving" about the church community. This may be the reason the Arthurian myth is well remembered as the monestries were known as the places of writing. Being known for its "legend weaving" it could be said that the monestry took the tale of Arthur and produced the fantacised version that most people know now. To finish off i am providing my favorite quote, which i beleive sums up the role of the Glastonbury Abbey perfectly in terms of role in the spread of early christianity, "Glastonbury remains the cradle of Christianity in Britain". Which provides an image of nurture and so shows how Glastonbury was instrimental in the spread of Christianity.
ReplyDeleteAs Geoffrey Ashe says, if scholars are willing to dismiss Joseph of Arimathea, then Glastonbury is generally accepted as the first British Christian community. When the first mission took place is debatable but Ashe asserts that although William of Malmesbury suggests the first century as a possibility, he actually prefers the second. In terms of the location of Glastonbury, Ashe demonstrates that this was a strategic location that was also "known overseas". Glastonbury, the "cradle of Christianity" was therefore vital in the spread of Christianity throughout Britain. The mission, whatever century it was in, must have been successful for Glastonbury's reputation to spread and it's highly inhabited, strategic location made it a prime monastery for the spread of the new religion.
ReplyDeleteThe early spread of Christianity in Britain is not only due to Glastonbury's history itself, but the people who reside there. Radiocarbon dating suggests that Glastonbury was definitely established by approximately the 680s, and possibly earlier if the glass used for testing was from a remodel. However, more light is shed on how a Celtic monastery was already established (implying Christianity was already in practice) when the English arrived in Glastonbury around 658, and how it evolved thereafter. The Saxons were able to maintain the continuity from Celtic Britain to Anglo-Saxon Britain because the Saxons were already Christians prior to arriving in Glastonbury due to other influences such as St. Patrick. Additionally, King Ine’s involvement, whether he constructed a remodel or not, would most likely draw attention to the abbey and Christianity. Hence, even though Glastonbury remains as a root for Christianity to spread, it wouldn’t have occurred without the beliefs and actions of the people.
ReplyDeletePrior to the flourishing of Christianity in Britain, Ashe emphasises the already established and thriving nature of the Glastonbury Abbey, referring to it as “the holiest place in Britain”. The role of Glastonbury in the long-term development of Christianity is evident; Ashe refers to the fact that it was probably the first or one of the first established monasteries, and acknowledging the importance monasteries and monasticism have played in the advancement of Christianity throughout the ages, it is impossible to deny that Glastonbury has indeed played an important role. The fact that Glastonbury was one of the few which survived is also testament to its longevity – a longevity that was perhaps missing from other monasteries of the time, and can be attributed to the writings of Glastonbury’s inhabitants (reference is made to the “provocative legend weaving” of the community). The importance and influence of missionaries, who perhaps used Glastonbury as a conversion base, also must be considered.
ReplyDeleteWhen considering the role Glastonbury played in the spread of Christianity throughout Britain it becomes imperative to consider it's geographical location; as Ashe points out, it was located within Briton territory, well to the Western side of the Southern mainland. As a majority of the Anglo-Saxon infiltration into the Briton's land was in the Eastern section of the mainland, Ashe's inference that Glastonbury's 'immunity' from the dissolution which occurred in other prominent monasteries (namely London) is due to the fact that by the time they reached it they had most probably been converted seems to hold a great deal of truth.
ReplyDeleteIn relation then, to Glastonbury's influence in the spread of Christianity throughout Britain, I find that it is with the help of the newly converted, yet highly prone to invasion, 'British' Anglo-Saxons and their reverence of the traditional monastery which allowed its presence to remain an important "senior establishment" of the Christian Church, but also to its eventual spread throughout Britain.
Glastonbury provided a permanent location for Christianity during the early spread, giving it stability while the mystery and intrigue surrounding it probably garnered interest in Christianity through stories told by merchants and traders, enabling it to spread. The unknown origins of the Old Church at Glastonbury create a miraculous foundation of Christianity in Britain. As Geoffrey Ashe comments that saints, kings and pilgrims would gather at Glastonbury because of the Old Church; it was a constant presence and link to Christianity in Britain. This constant presence was crucial in the spread of Christianity as it encouraged Christians to keep their faith and provided a secure place for people to practice their religion. While this may not fully explain the early spread, it does provide reasoning as to the perceived ability to spread as it already had a strong lifelong base that did not alter during times of invasion. The mystery of the origins of Glastonbury is a key point in its role in the early spread of Christianity in Britain. The mystery spurred historians such as William of Malmesbury to visit the site and continues to be of interest today as archaeologists undergo digs in the area. Ashe also suggests that around the beginning of the Christian era, Glastonbury was an important port and products from Glastonbury have been found in Wales, Northern Ireland and Brittany. As it is clear that many people passed through this area, it is likely that they too would become enamoured with the mystery of Glastonbury and the Old Church. The existence of such a holy place whose origins were unknown would create an interesting travel story for merchants and traders; thereby contributing to the early spread of Christianity as people became more familiar with it and probably endeavoured to travel to the fantastic Old Church to see if the tales of merchants were true.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think it's difficult to draw any conclusions about what role Glastonbury had in the spread of Christianity in Britain, we can certainly say it provided a stable presence of Christianity in Britain that wasn't threatened by the Anglo-Saxon invasions in the same way other Christian settlements in the East were. This may not have meant it was greatly involved in spreading Christianity, at least not deliberately (there is no evidence it was a missionary settlement), but the presence of such a well-established centre of Christianity would surely have had some impact, even if it's not possible to establish the extent of the influence. Materials from Glastonbury have been found throughout Ireland, Brittany and Wales, showing there was a significant volume of trade - this movement of people through Glastonbury would surely have at least allowed for better spread of Christian ideas, if not conversion.
ReplyDeleteDespite the numerous historical speculations and opinions on the early beginnings of Glastonbury, the ‘Old Church’ is still useful to signpost early Christian belief and can be used as a historical tool for introspection and interpretation on the spread of Christianity throughout the British Isles. A contested topic, it is however widely accepted that Glastonbury was revered, “the ‘holiest earth’ in all the land”, and was very likely to have been the ‘pioneer’ monastery which strengthened Celtic Britain into Anglo-Saxon England. From the discussion by Ashe, it can be seen that although there are many difficulties in determining the origins of Glastonbury; this may prove fruitless from the vast amount of primary sources and heavy religious inflections, it is possible to argue the existence of Glastonbury monastery highlighted the process of Christianisation within Britain. Both Dunning and and Treharne suggest that it was Glastonbury that may have indeed fostered greater belief in Christianity. The miraculous and mysterious existence of the monastery, created intrigue and many from various areas including merchants to historians would have travelled to, thus firmly establishing the longevity of Christianity in Britain.
ReplyDeleteAurora S
It can be argued that Glastonbury can be said to have played a significant role in the early spread of Christianity in Britain as it may have been home to “the first native Christian institution” in Britain. From this point other churches may have been able to be established. As noted by Ashe, the site has an unbroken continuity from Celtic pre-Christian faiths and Christianity. This continuity is to such an extent that the true history of the church is unknown and subject to conjecture, both in ancient times and in modern. Indeed, Ashe notes that William of Malmesbury found himself with the same issue as we do, namely the lack of accurate references to the foundation of the Church. The earliest mention of Christianity in Britain was by Tertullian c. 200CE, and the other sources such as Gildas and Bede are light in historical details. William thus concludes that Glastonbury was most likely established by a group of missionaries from the second century. Given the presence of the two “lake villages” of Godney and Meare situated near Glastonbury which provide evidence of trading between cultures between 200BCE and 100CE, Ashe suggests that the area was thus known overseas. This does allow for the possibility that Britain may have come into contact with Christianity from mainland Europe at an early time, in the area around Glastonbury. For Glastonbury, such a possibility lends credence to the idea that the church was the hub from which others may have been established.
ReplyDeleteAs has been mentioned above, numerous speculations about Glastonbury including when it was built and who it was built by, leaves a certain measure of ambiguity when judging it's initial influence over the spread of Christianity in early Briton. However, as discussed by Tammy, Shauny-Maree, Melanie and others above, the fact that it remained stable and present over a number of centuries would have had an impact on the members of community, perhaps influencing the spread of early Christianity. As Tammy described in great detail, the reverence that people had for the church, evident in suggested reports that they would, "[swear} by it as a solemn oath" as well as tales that it was "prepared by God himself" may have added to the power and mystic of the church in an area where many people passed though and travelled.
ReplyDeleteGlastonbury’s origins, though unknown, are suggested to be “the first British Christian community” by Ashe. He raises the idea that it was a long-established Celtic monastery which became a Christian one. This is reflective of the Romans trying to merge Christianity with Paganism by keeping some traditions from the old religion and making the new holy days the same dates as the old ones. This is reinforced by his statement that “the Church had an organised official status in Roman Britain”, which echoes the idea that it was a new religion, requiring a certain amount of bureaucratic discipline and control. Ashe also advocates the idea of Glastonbury having a symbolic nature, albeit only to its immediate community, as “its seniority and sanctity do not imply a wide-ranging influence” but rather, a gathering point for the local community. He points to Glastonbury’s “one unparalleled feature, which was to be the inspiration and focus of its provocative legend-weaving: the community church itself”. This idea has traversed history, as churches are still largely community-focused, reflecting the Biblical line that “if two or more gather in [Jesus’] name then [he] shall be present”.
ReplyDeleteGlastonbury certainly played an important role as a centre of native British Christianity, as opposed to the Roman Christianity with its centres in the east. And because of its location in the west of Britain, it was spared the ravages of the Saxons. Its role in the early spread of Christianity in Britain, however, is uncertain, but it seems likely that it was more of an early monastic centre, rather than a missionary post.
ReplyDeleteThe key questions are over when exactly did Christianity spread to Britain, and when the Old Church at Glastonbury was founded. According to Tertullian, the earliest primary source, there were Christians in Britain around the start of the 3rd century AD. While Gildas and Bede suggest an earlier date for the introduction of Christianity in Britain, they both either lack historical facts or contain factual errors. William of Malmesbury claims his investigation led him to conclude that Glastobury was founded at least sometime in the 2nd century AD. His dating is uncertain, however, since he is reliant upon documents held at the Glastonbury. Given Glastonbury’s track record of ‘embellishing’ its own importance, both with St. Dunstan in 1000 and later the editing of Malmesbury’s own account in the 13th century, this should be treated with caution.
Though historians remain unsure as to the origins of Glastonbury, it seems indisputable that it is one of the oldest established places of worship for Christians and seems to enjoy an unbroken history as such. As demonstrated by St Dunstan, a prominent abbot of Glastonbury, the church's unknown origins regarding its builders and date of construction gave it an almost mythical aura; it was "not built by the art of man... but prepared by God himself... by many miracles and many mysteries of healing". Thus it probably gave not only the church but Christianity by extension a holy and divinely inspired and driven air. Given its already established reputation as the "holiest place in Britain" after the Saxons arrived after 658CE and perceived as ancient to the contemporaries, it seems plausible that Glastonbury had some religious significance before the construction of the Christian church.
ReplyDelete