Glastonbury Abbey in Glastonbury, Somerset

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Get directions Glastonbury, Somerset, England

Coordinates: 51.14650, -2.71510
Cemetery ID:

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According to tradition, it is the earliest Christian sanctuary in Britain. Legend says Joseph of Arimathea brought Jesus here and they built the old wattle and daub church. History records it as standing in 600; and it burnt down when the entire Abbey church were destroyed in fire in 1184. Glastonbury was important for pilgrimage - even being called "The Second Rome". The Abbey became the largest and richest in England. St Bridget, St David and St Patrick are said to have visited. St Dunstan was educated at Glastonbury Abbey and was Abbot here until he became Archbishop of Canterbury. He introduced the BVenedictine Rule to Glastonbury and into England. In 1191 legend says that the monks found the buried remains of King Arthur and his Queen Guinevere. In 1278 they were re-buried in the chancel in the presence of King Edward I and Queen Eleanor. In succession, 3 stone Abbey churches have stood there. In 1539 the Abbey was seized on the orders of King henry VIII, during the dissolution of monasteries. It was demolished gradually and used as a 'quarry' for building stone. In 1907, the ruins were bought and preserved.