Planted on Jan. 26, Glastonbury’s newest Holy Thorn is an very special tree, a descendent of the Holy Thorn that stands on the town’s Wearyall Hill. Legend says that the original Thorn sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea when he came to Britain more than 2,000 years ago.
In September 2012, Tatomir Ion-Marius, a URI affiliate member from Romania, visited the Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre and encouraged its manager, Morgana West (pictured above) to plant an Peace Pole. Created in 1955 by the World Peace Prayer Society, each Peace Pole is a monument that serves as a reminder to act peacefully and in an harmonious way. West embraced the idea and presented it to the local council, which approved the project.
Glastonbury’s new Peace Pole presents its timeless message in in eight languages: English, Dutch, German, Romanian, Spanish, Japanese, Hindi and Braille. The Jan. 26 planting event began with a ceremony in the Glastonbury Town Hall that included harp music by John Dalton and a speech by Mayor Ian Tucker. In the candle-lighting ceremony that followed, Tatomir Ion-Maris was chosen to light a Candle of Peace.
“I said that I’m lighting the Candle with the wish that Oneness and Peace may prevail,” Tatomir said.
Tatomir was joined by Caroline Uchima, director of the World Peace Prayer Society UK; Glastonbury Council members Sue Thurgood, John Brunsdon, Denise Michell, William Knight, and Jon Cousins; Mayor Ian Tucker; Lynne Sedgmore, Commander of the British Empire; and many other volunteers and visitors.
After the planting of the pole and thorn, the celebration continued in the Town Hall with music from the Avalonian Free State Choir and Tim Hall & The Archetypes. The Peace Pole has been placed close to one of the town’s many other attractions: the abbey in whose courtyard some believe the legendary King Arthur is buried.
