Saint Dunstan Guardian Bird of Relics
| | | | | | | | |

Saint Dunstan Guardian Bird of Relics

Bykaterattray

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
| | | | | | | |

St.Brigid Guardian Bird of Relics

Bykaterattray

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…

St. Joseph of Arimathea Guardian Bird of Relics
| | | | | | | | | | | |

St. Joseph of Arimathea Guardian Bird of Relics

Bykaterattray

Legend has it that Saint Joseph of Arimathea came to Glastonbury to spread the Christian faith with the two cruets full of Christ’s blood and sweat. When he arrived he walked up Wearyall (now Wirral) hill and on reaching the top he stopped and exclaimed something like “Since we be weary all here we will…

King Arthur and Queen Guinevere Guardian Birds of relics
| | | | | | | | | | |

King Arthur and Queen Guinevere Guardian Birds of relics

Bykaterattray

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…