Late afternoon on the 8th October 2007 the last stone of the labyrinth was laid in the churchyard of St Johns the Baptist in Glastonbury High Street. It is a grass labyrinth of the classical seven circuit design: it path delineated by blue lias stonework (a local stone present in the Tor).
It was very much a communal creation. Young students from St Dunstan’s school had dug the trenches on the previous Saturday under the supervision of a builder Bob Wilson . Many people from all walks of life and spiritual persuasions volunteered their time to help in its construction (laying the stones in a bed of concrete to create a permanent structure).
The following Sunday the parish curate Reverend Judith Lawrence blessed the labyrinth in a simple and meaningful ceremony, which wove Christian and Celtic symbolism in the blessing of the four quarters.
Many local residents helped to finance the project, including bookshops, organisations, and Glastonbury Town council.
The Labyrinth came into being by the determined efforts of one person in particular, Sig Lonegren ( a Glastonbury geomancer and author).He envisioned that it would help heal the rift torn in the fabric of Glastonbury that might have been initially caused by the barbaric execution of Abbot Whiting and the ensuing destruction of the Abbey in 1549. This act devastated the town spiritually, economically and socially, plunging it into a rudderless limbo. It was after petitioning that Queen Anne granted Glastonbury a Royal Charter in 1705. A mayor and corporation were duly elected which helped to restore order, re-empower and give back the town its identity.
It was proposed in 2002 that a labyrinth be constructed to mark the 300th year of this very important event in the history of Glastonbury. To this end a committee was set up including among others the town’s mayor, the vicar and curate of St John’s the Baptist, and Sig Lonegren who took on the role of co-ordinator. Several sites were chosen in succession and permission gained from appropriate authorities, but then were turn down on objection from residents living adjacent to the sites. Just when it seemed that the project would never get off the ground, the Reverend Maxine Marsh had the idea to ask her congregation about building it in the churchyard. After an illustrated talk on labyrinths by Sig Lonegren they gave their approval. Then came the laborious task of getting permission from British Heritage, Mendip District Council, and up through the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Eventually permission was gained with conditions attached, such having archaeologist present, and an architect to draw up plans!
Now Glastonbury has a beautiful labyrinth in a prominent position in the High Street. So next time you are in town come and walk its winding path.
~Pictures and article by Tony Eagleheart
