double headed eagle – Kate Rattray

The Robert Plant Guardian Bird of Relics

Bykaterattray October 13, 2017February 5, 2021

And so to the final one of the six birds! It’s Robert Plant, our wonderful living rock legend! I thought it would be nice to have someone who is still alive as inspiration for a guardian bird. I chose Mr. Plant because of his connections with Glastonbury and the Abbey itself. In 2014 for the…

Saint Dunstan Guardian Bird of Relics

Bykaterattray October 11, 2017February 5, 2021

The penultimate guardian bird of relics made for the Traces Revealed exhibition at Glastonbury Abbey. Born in Baltonsborough near Glastonbury, Saint Dunstan was guided by the Irish monks in the 10th Century A.D at Glastonbury Abbey. Later he became abbot of the Abbey. When he was canonised after his death, his patronage included metalsmiths, goldsmiths,…

St.Brigid Guardian Bird of Relics

Bykaterattray October 7, 2017February 5, 2021

It is said that the Irish Saint Brigid (of Kildare) visited Beckery chapel just outside Glastonbury in the 5th Century AD. Although the chapel is no longer there I went to find the hill (Brides mound) where it once was. I wish I had been in on the recent excavations where they re-found seven skeletons…

King Arthur and Queen Guinevere Guardian Birds of relics

Bykaterattray September 30, 2017January 9, 2020

And so the magic begins! …The Guardian birds have risen from their hidden hollows beneath the Tor . The precious relics tightly carried in their claws, to a place of safety in the Abbey, where pilgrims and folk from the kingdom of Somerset and beyond can gaze upon them in wonder. I chose to use…