The Holy Grail is an evolving tale, and much of its history is centered in Glastonbury.

The Holy Grail usually refers to the chalice used at Christ’s Last Supper. In many stories, the chalice was filled with the blood and/or sweat of Jesus from his crucifixion, and then brought to Glastonbury by Joseph of Arimathea and his followers.

According to legend, St. Phillip sent Joseph of Arimathea and twelve of his followers to Glastonbury. This group arrived shortly after Jesus’ death, when Glastonbury was a small island, “The Island of Glass,” on the edge of the sea.

The Glastonbury Thorn

As Joseph stepped from his ship, he planted his recently cut walking staff in the ground and left it there. In time, it sprouted, took root and grew into the “Glastonbury Thorn.” That thorn bush still lives on Wearyall Hill in Glastonbury.

(Note: This plant is not native to England, but to Syria. The plant’s formal name is Crateagus Monogyna Praecox. This particular thorn bush—and the bushes created from its cuttings—flower twice a year: at Christmas and later in the Spring. Other, similar thorns flower only in the spring.)

The Grail, and Chalice Well

Shortly after arriving, Joseph buried Jesus’ chalice near a passage to the Otherworld. According to one legend, “Blood Spring” emerged from the spot, and since then has flowed with reddish water, like the blood in the chalice.

According to another legend, the red "Blood Spring," and its sister, the White Spring, already existed long before Joseph's visit. Limestone in the water of the White Spring provides its milky color, just as iron colors the red water from Blood Spring. It is very unusual to have two colored springs next to each other. To many, this confirms the likelihood that Glastonbury is, indeed, spiritually significant.

Blood Spring's reddish water runs underground today (the spring was partially covered in a 13th century earthquake) to Chalice Well, in a lovely garden near the center of the town of Glastonbury.

The water at Chalice Well is legendary. Pilgrims can drink from the reddish water that rushes from a lion’s head fixture at Chalice Well, or—when the Well grounds are closed—draw water from a spout at the gate. The water--and the miracles that seem to accompany it--are free.

Is the Holy Grail truly buried at the foundation of Chalice Well? The miracles of the Well suggest that it is. The gate is decorated with crutches and other evidence of the healings at the Well.

Regardless of the physical link to the Holy Grail, the water and meditation gardens at Chalice Well have intense spiritual powers.

This is not the only explanation of the significance of the "Holy Grail."

Another account of the Holy Grail

A 5th century manuscript by Maelgwn of Llandaff tells the Grail story a little differently. Maelgwn claimed that Joseph carried two sacred cruets—not a chalice.

In Maelgwn’s story, Joseph and his followers did live in Glastonbury. However, when Joseph of Arimathea died, he was buried in a sarcophagus with two white and silver cruets, “filled with the Blood and Sweat of the Prophet Jesus.” (In the very earliest days of Christianity, Jesus was referred to as a Prophet.)

Maelgwn of Llandaff also delivered a prophecy, that “neither water nor dew of heaven shall fail those inhabiting this most notable island.”

And, indeed, the spring at Chalice Well saved the town of Glastonbury from devastating drought during the dry years of 1921-22. The spring has a steady output of 25,000 gallons per day.

The Christian history of Glastonbury continued past the founding of Chalice Well.

Glastonbury Abbey

Joseph of Arimathea and his followers built huts in a circle, near the original “Blood Spring.” When they died, others took their places, and the huts remained until St. Patrick convinced the group to form a monastery. They built Glastonbury Abbey.

After his mission in Ireland, St. Patrick returned to the sacred site of Glastonbury, and at age 111, he died there. He may have been buried at Glastonbury, or—according to an equally popular legend—his remains were transported and interred in Ireland.

Glastonbury was both a Pagan and Christian center for centuries. At the time of the Domesday Book, Glastonbury Abbey was the richest monastery in England.

When a fire destroyed most of the Abbey buildings in 1184, work began immediately to restore it.

Glastonbury Abbey flourished until 1539, when it was closed during Henry the Eighth’s “Dissolution of the Monasteries.”

Over the next 350 years, the Abbey slowly decayed and was overgrown with weeds. In 1907, the site was bought for the Church of England.

Today, the Abbey ruins are open to the public, with a helpful visitors’ center to explain Glastonbury’s remarkable history.

The town of Glastonbury and the Abbey are well worth visiting.

On the next page, Glastonbury, Camelot and Avalon: The Holy Grail is a fascinating subject, but it is not the only link between King Arthur and Glastonbury. In the next article, we will see how Camelot's location confirms Glastonbury as the most likely Avalon.