Become a Volunteer
We are very grateful to everyone who has helped us to get this far and would like to say a special big thank-you to all our wonderful volunteers, without whom we would not be here.
If you have knowledge of Glastonbury and experience in supporting people on a spiritual journey in Glastonbury (we do offer support and some training) you might like to join our team.
Volunteers are asked to give a regular commitment of two or four hours once a week or fortnightly. Contact us if you would like to find out more.
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About Us
Glastonbury reached its peak as a centre of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages with the needs of pilgrims being met by the monks of the Benedictine Abbey. With the destruction of the monastery, pilgrimage lapsed. Today in the twenty-first century, there has been a huge resurgence of interest in the town as a centre of pilgrimage. But now, instead of a centre of Christian pilgrimage, Glastonbury has fully emerged as a place that recognises and honours all faiths and beliefs and all those on a sacred journey.
The increasing number of visitors, interested in the spiritual and healing aspects of the town, led to an awareness that a centre specialising in informing and supporting ‘pilgrim’ visitors would be of value to both visitors and the community alike.
In 2008, Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre (The PRC), an organisation supportive of all faiths and beliefs, first opened its doors. Since those early beginnings, the PRC has gone from strength to strength with its activities continuing to expand as more and more areas of need are identified.
Staffing
The PRC has seven volunteer management team members, all of whom coordinate the running of the organisation. There are three part-time paid staff and the Centre is kept open by twenty-five volunteers, all of whom have experience in meeting the needs of pilgrim visitors and all of them from many different spiritual/religious backgrounds.
Funding
From the very start, the PRC has been self funding. It has done this by a combination of income from its various activities and support from individuals and community trusts within Glastonbury. To date, it has had no financial support from any public or government body. If you feel that you could support us in our work, more details can be found at: Support the PRC
Legal Structure
The PRC first began as a properly constituted Not-For-Profit Association. Due to its continued expansion, all its activities have now been transferred to a Not-For-Profit Company Limited by Guarantee, called Glaston Centre Ltd.
Introducing the Management Team
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Elisabeth Tham - CHAIR
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Elisabeth has a background in office administration, languages, counselling, supervision and training. She first became involved in the idea of a Pilgrim Reception Centre in 2005 and admits that from time to time she has had doubts about whether it would be possible to establish a sustainable Pilgrim Reception Centre.
She feels that her doubts have always been overcome by the help received from the Angel of Glastonbury, particularly with so many talented, committed and energetic helpers and supporters, who have come forward, not only those directly involved with running the PRC, but also in the Community at large.
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She says: "Ever since I arrived in Glastonbury in 1991, I have been part of a number of small groups, mainly concerned with exploring and sharing different spiritual paths. It has been a fascinating, although at times disconcerting experience. Initiating the PRC is perhaps a natural progression on my path". |
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Morgana consciously began her spiritual journey in her late teens, training to third degree in Wicca but she also learned and studied many other differing belief systems and Mystery Schools.
Her knowledge and understanding of the environs of Glastonbury naturally progressed to welcoming and serving pilgrims and visitors of all faiths (or none) without prejudice, to this sacred place.
Morgana was born and raised in Yorkshire where she lived for 40 years. She was, amongst many things, a pub manager, a foster parent and a student/teacher of the Chinese Cultural Arts (Taoist Arts). She moved to Glastonbury in 1999.
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She says: "My own personal belief is that whilst each and every one of us might be on differing spiritual paths, we are all on the same mountain heading for the same summit. By sharing our journey and walking alongside other people, growing in wisdom, knowledge and understanding, we are better able to realise our full potential". |
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Vanessa Poulton- DEPUTY MANAGER
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Vanessa has been looking at life from a different angle for as long as she can remember. An early interest in the alternative was sidelined by a long career as a Make Up Designer in television and film.
She is now happily back on the path and living in Glastonbury with her partner, having moved here in 2009.
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She says: "I feel privileged to be living in a town that has so many sacred places and such a strong community, and very blessed to be able to give some of my energy to it".
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Jane Sanders - WEB CO-ORDINATOR
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Jane has lived in Glastonbury since 1988, bringing up four children and working as a psychotherapist.
She currently manages the Glastonbury Natural Health Centre and is part of the 'hub' group of Transition Glastonbury.
The latest version of this website has been designed with ergonet, a local web-design company and lots of help from Morgana West and Elfy Clifford. Local photographers and artists have also donated their work.
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She says: "I've learnt so much from working on this project. It has given me a new sense of the wealth of talented people we have in our Glastonbury community". |
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Pauline Ross - SHOP MANAGER
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Pauline initially trained as a secretary and then did a BTEC in care-work and worked with various client groups.
She has been a spiritual healer for over 25 years and is qualified in Aromatherapy, Reflexology, NLP, EFT, crystal healing and various types of massage.
She moved to Glastonbury in 2006, having run a small therapy centre in Bedfordshire.
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She says: "I am semi - retired or so I like to think and got involved in the PRC not long after I moved here. I am loving every minute of it and hope to see it go from strength to strength".
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Anthony J. Kennish - PRC COMPANION COORDINATOR & GENERAL ROUSTABOUT
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 Tony has worked in Electrical Engineering Design all his working life and for the last 50 years has developed his personal and spiritual life through many areas, particularly Christian Mysticism.
He co-founded The Jung Society, The Psychosynthesis Institute and The Australian Transpersonal Institute.
He has lived in Glastonbury since 1998, and is a dowser, researcher, writer and author of Glastonbury Chronicles and Earth Chronicles. He holds all things as sacred.
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He says: "I love working with people, so joining the PRC has given me the opportunity to be of service to Pilgrims from all over the world, whilst growing in wisdom and understanding, with a wonderful team of dedicated people".
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Jane Wright - 'FRIENDS OF THE PRC' COORDINATOR
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Jane h ad the call to move to Glastonbury in 2010 having visited regularly for the past 20 years. Her professional history has been in psychiatry and psychology, always working with people suffering mental health and emotional difficulties, addictions, the homeless and those in prison. She also trained as an Art Tutor and now teaches art to adults locally and paints for her own pleasure and exhibition.
She has walked down many spiritual paths in the past and this has led her to explore Budhism, Quaker Christianity, Hinduism and Shamanism to name a few. She is a Reiki master and reflexologist. She now owns an eclectic mix of all that she has studied and experienced and is happy with her own unlabelled, individual path.
She says: “I am so grateful to be able to live and work in the sacred and transformational energies of Glastonbury and am proud to be able to help with the Pilgrim Reception Centre whose ethos I absolutely resonate with and to have the opportunity to meet with people from all over the world on their own personal pilgrimage.
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Your basket
Objectives of the PRC
To actively help in building Glastonbury as a centre of pilgrimage for people of all faiths and beliefs
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To offer a range of services to pilgrims, visitors, residents and researchers including information, teaching and support
To achieve these objectives:
By networking and working with organisations, groups and individuals in Glastonbury
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By supplying the PRC’s own developing ranges of services
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Where necessary, initiating new services and projects
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By ensuring that there are competent people working as volunteers, paid helpers or partners, responsible for each of the elements of running the PRC including – co-ordination, administration, publicity, marketing, promotion, funding, finance, legal, sales, website, e-commerce etc.
To fund these objectives by generating sufficient sustainable income to enable the PRC to pay:
The central overheads of the Centre itself
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Where necessary, the staff involved in the various activities of the PRC
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Funding for new projects
These funds to be generated from:
Services, products, activities and events delivered by the PRC and paid for by the recipient. Some of these services may be delivered for no charge but other goods and services will be specifically aimed at generating funds
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Gifts and donations
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Private Charities and Organisations
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