Theologia et Vita

Glastonbury Abbey and the Charge of Forgery: A Historical Overview J. Neil Daniels Historical Importance of Glastonbury Abbey Glastonbury Abbey, situated in Somerset, England, was among the most prominent and wealthy monastic houses in medieval Britain. It served as a center of religious life, cultural production, and political influence for centuries. By the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, it had established a formidable reputation, attracting pilgrims, scholars, and patrons alike. Yet despite its impressive legacy, the abbey’s purported antiquity and its legendary associations, especially those linking it to Joseph of Arimathea and King Arthur, have come under sustained critical scrutiny. Modern historians have increasingly viewed Glastonbury not only as a religious institution but also as a place where myth and invention were consciously cultivated. Accusations of Forgery and Legendary Claims The characterization of Glastonbury as a “factory of fraud,” a phrase famously coine...