The Avalonians

The First Avalonians

In the early part of the Twentieth Century, several prominent figures were involved with Glastonbury. They included Bligh Bond, Dion Fortune, Wesley Tudor Pole, Alice Buckton, Rutland Boughton and later Katherine Maltwood. In their different ways, all these people were intuitively influenced by entities who guided them in their work. They used different names for their ‘guides’ but they seem to be referring to the same entities.

It was Dion Fortune who coined the term ‘Avalonians’ for this generation of Glastonbury seekers – and she wrote of the inspiring presence, in her book “Avalon of the Heart”.

“Mediaeval piety and learning are in the very air of Glastonbury. The stones of the Abbey are overthrown, but its spirit lives on like a haunting presence, and many have seen its ghost.”

The word Avalonians was made more widely known in the book of the same name, first published by Patrick Benham in 1993.

In this paper we will look briefly at these inspired people, and what they brought to the town. We are calling them the ‘First Avalonians’ as they were the first group to become publicly known and to begin to publicize the energies of Glastonbury. They are not the only a Avalonians ! - there has been a steady stream of people arriving in the town since the middle of the 20th century, each of whom has made their own unique contribution to the town and we will look at some of these people elsewhere.

Most of these First Avalonians had a strong belief in Christianity linked with an understanding of myth and legend and an acceptance of intuitive guidance. There was an acceptance of Glastonbury as a magical place, but we do not find them defining it as a contemporary place of pilgrimage and transformation.

Today, what we call the New Avalonians are more eclectic in their beliefs. They believe in spiritual inspiration but also in a multitude of different spiritual and religious paths - indeed Christianity probably plays a only small part in the belief of these newcomers. There is also a waning interest in Arthurian legends and a wider interest in the more distant Celtic past and contemporary paths such as Wicca and Sufism.

Now let us look at our First Avalonians:

Alice Buckton - 1867 - 1944

Dion Fortune - 1890 - 1946

Dr John Arthur Goodchild - 1851 - 1914

Frederick Bligh Bond - 1864 - 1945

Rutland Boughton - 1878 - 1960

Major Wellesley Tudor Pole - 1884 - 1968

Katherine Maltwood - 1878 - 1961

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