The Story

Legend tells us that following the crucifixion of Christ, his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, arrived at Glastonbury with twelve companions. The first references to this are attributed to Rabinus Maurus (AD766 – 856) and that the companions included Mary (mother of Jesus and her sister Martha, Mary Magdalene. Tired and weary, Joseph thrust his staff into the ground on Wearyall Hill, where it took root and flourished.

During the time of the English Civil War, between 1642 and 1651, the Thorn that stood on the hill at the time was cut down by one of Cromwell’s soldiers on the grounds that it was a relic of superstition. It is said that as it fell, its thorns blinded the axe man in one eye.

The Thorn was once believed to blossom on Christmas Day. In 1753, the British Calendar was altered to bring us into line with Europe and eleven days were dropped from the month of September. The Glastonbury Thorn, which flowered on Christmas Day Old Style, was closely observed and it was rumoured that thousands of people flocked to the town to see whether it would stick to its principles and blossom on the old day, or cave in to Parliament and blossom on the new one.
‘The Gentleman’s Magazine’ a publication of that time, reported: “A vast concourse of people attended the noted thorn on Christmas-day, new style; but, to their great disappointment, there was no appearance of its blowing, which made them watch it narrowly the 5th of January, the Christmas-day, old style, when it blowed as usual." Gentleman's Magazine January 1753

A sprig of the winter blossom is traditionally cut from the Thorn in St. John’s churchyard and sent to the reigning monarch, maintaining the continuation of an old tradition initiated by James Montague, bishop of Bath and Wells, when he sent a branch to Queen Anne, consort of James I (1566 – 1625).

At the end of term, the pupils of St. John’s School gather round the tree and sing carols, including one specially written for the occasion. The oldest pupil has the privilege of cutting a sprig of the Thorn which is then taken to London and presented to the Queen, where it resides on her Christmas Day breakfast table.

The thorn is a variety known as Crataegus monogyna var, biflora, (or Crataegus oxyacantha praecox) usually seen in the Middle East. It is unusual in that it flowers twice a year, in spring and again in winter, when the fruits of the spring blossoms are still the tree. The average life span of the tree is approximately 100 years and this particular one, a direct descendant of the original, was planted on Wearyall Hill in 1952. A previous one had been planted in 1951 to commemorate the Festival of Britain. However, it didn’t take and was replaced a year later.

Other descendants can also be found in St. John’s churchyard, the Abbey, the gardens of Chalice Well, the grounds of the Abbey Barn (Rural Life Museum) and in private gardens around the town. Many have tried to grow the Glastonbury Thorn from seed and direct ctings, but it can only be grown by being grafted onto the common hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna

Glastonbury Holy Thorn: News

Scroll to the bottom to find Frequently Asked Questions

7th November 2010

Healthy new trees at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

On December 22nd 2010, after the devastating attack on the Glastonbury Holy Thorn on Wearyall Hill, the manager of Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre, Morgana West, arranged for Tony Kirkham, Head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, to come to Glastonbury and take cuttings from the severed branches that had been entrusted to Glastonbury Abbey for safekeeping.

Despite the severe snow and hazardous road conditions, Tony and his Head of Nursery, Tony Hall, travelled from London on a flying visit to Glastonbury. They returned to Kew with several scions which were then grafted onto Hawthorn rootstock so that new Glastonbury Thorns could be grown from the severed branches.

We are very delighted to report that several of the scions have taken and have grown into healthy saplings. They are still very delicate at this stage and too young to be planted out so therefore Morgana and Tony have agreed that they spend another year at Kew under their excellent resources and nurturing care.

No plans are yet being made for their future.

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4th June 2010

It has been a little while since any real news could be reported. Sadly the growth at the top of the tree, reported on 21st March has withered and died. There are shoots growing out of the bottom but we have been informed that as they are growing from the rootstock (common hawthorn) that it is likely the new growth will not be the Glastonbury Thorn genus. We shall have to wait and see.

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21st March 2010

New growth has appeared on the Glastonbury Holy Thorn

Yesterday the twig was brown and bare;
To-day the glint of green is there;
Tomorrow will be leaflets spare;
I know no thing so wondrous fair,
No miracle so strangely rare.
I wonder what will next be there!
L.H. Bailey

There is wonderful synchronicity at play. Tony Kirkham, Head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanical Gardens, came to Glastonbury on the Winter Solstice to take scions from the severed branches. He contacted Morgana on 14th February (Valentines Day) to say that the scions, grafted to hawthorn roostock, had calloused. During the Spring Equinox period, new shoots burst forth on the severed trunk.

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16th March 2010

Still no signs of growth on the vandalised tree. The informal Glastonbury Holy Thorn team has yet to explore ways in which all the suggestions can best be presented to the Glastonbury community so they might decide on what they would like to see happen next. These suggestions were made in answer to the questions, "What happens to the severed branches" and "What should happen if the tree fails to regenerate".

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14th February 2010

Ut concido grow tergum validus - When cut down grow back stronger

Tony Kirkham, Head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew has let us know that about ten of the scions taken from the severed branches have calloused and are looking good. It has to be remembered that there is the possibility that Crataegus monogyna var, biflora grafted onto Crataegus monogyna rootstock has the potential to revert to common hawthorn, so it will be quite some time before we know if it is going to 'stick' and flower bi-annually.

All the suggestions regarding what to do with the severed branches that could not be used for scions and what might happen should the tree itself fail to survive, have been gathered in. The team is now looking at options as to what would be the best way in which to present them to the community.

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23rd December 2010

Photo: ©Morgana West

Since the severance of the trunk of the Holy Thorn on Wearyall Hill offers of advice, information and help from tree experts has come flooding in. Some advice has contradicted others.

When Tony Kirkham, Head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew offered his expertise, we took the opportunity to consult one of the world’s leading experts on trees and how best to care for them.

Tony, along with his team of over thirty staff and students, is responsible for managing more than 14,000 trees at Kew. Amongst their

living collection is Crataegus monogyna var, biflora, (or Crataegus oxyacantha praecox)- a Glastonbury Holy Thorn which is a direct descendant of the Gastonbury Holy Thorn.

Tony also co-wrote Plants from the Edge of the World and has been featured in the BBC TV series A Year at Kew and The Trees That Made Britain. He has been at the Royal Botanical Gardens since 1978.

After visiting with his colleague on Wednesday 22nd December 2010, the advice from Kew is as follows:

• There is no need to treat the pruning wounds as nature will take its own course and the tree is very likely to self heal without any tree paints. Paints are no longer used today for the treatment of cuts. However, if it hasn’t been done, those caring for the tree might consider cutting back the tears in the trunk to below the tear.

• The current dressing of the remaining tree trunk should be removed as soon as possible as fungus and infection is likely to set in if it is left in place.

• In the spring there is a very good chance the tree will ‘break’ new growth from the pruning wounds.

• The tree can be propagated from semi ripe cuttings in the late spring, early summer or from hardwood cuttings in the winter and the optimum time for grafting is now, through to a week the other side of Christmas. Cuttings from last year’s growth on the severed branches need to be grafted now during this short window of time.

• The rootstock needs to be common hawthorn, despite some books saying blackthorn.

The Grounds Team at Glastonbury Abby received further advice in grafting the cuttings from the severed branches and cuttings were also given to Ark Redwood, Head Gardener of the Chalice Well Gardens.

Cuttings were also taken back to Kew where they have offered to dedicate their expertise and resources to try and propagate new thorn trees for the community in Glastonbury.

The trunk itself is being looked after by a Glastonbury based Gardening and Landscape Company and they have given assurances that once the severe weather has passed, the wrapping will be removed.

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14th December 2010

Shock waves have rippled around the world at the vicious attack on the Glastonbury Holy Thorn on Wearyall Hill. The attack took place on 9th December 2010. Famous for its link to Joseph of Arimathea, it was hacked down and reduced to just a stump.
The Holy Thorn holds a high significance in Glastonbury and is regarded as being very special by both the spiritual and the secular community.
Avon and Somerset Police has launched an investigation after local residents found the stump and Katherine Gorbing, director of Glastonbury Abbey, condemned the vandals who carried out the attack.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated 14.2.2011.

1. Why has this list of frequently asked questions been put together?
Following the vicious attack on the Glastonbury Holy Thorn Tree which was cut down by vandals on the night of Wednesday 8 December 2010, many people have asked what will happen to the remains of the tree and, equally important, what will happen to the holy wood from the severed branches?

2. Will the tree recover from the attack and grow back?
The tree trunk remains so there is a good chance the tree will grow back. Spring is nearly upon us and we shall soon discover if the tree is strong enough to regenerate and grow new branches.

3. Who is looking after the tree?
Wearyall Hill is privately owned and a Glastonbury based Gardening and Landscape Company has been consulted by the owner to advise on how to keep the tree alive and give it the best chance of survival.
4. Where are the severed branches of the Holy Thorn now?
Glastonbury Abbey was asked to safeguard the branches until people were able to have their say about what should happen to the wood. Suggestions made via email, Facebook and boxes placed around the town have been gathered in and collated by a volunteer team from Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre. The Thorn team will now explore ways in which these suggestions can best be presented so that any decisions might reflect the whole of the community.

5. Will parts of the branches be sold?
No, there are no plans to sell any of the branches or wood as there is a consensus that it would be wrong to make money out of this sad situation.

6. Is it possible to grow a new tree by grafting a section of the tree?
Following advice from Tony Kirkham, Head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, we were told the tree could be propagated from semi ripe cuttings (scions) in the late spring, early summer or from hardwood scions in the winter. The Grounds Team at Glastonbury Abby received further advice in grafting the scions from the severed branches and scions were also presented to Ark Redwood, Head Gardener of the Chalice Well Gardens. Tony also offered to dedicate Kew’s expertise and resources to propagate new thorn trees for the community in Glastonbury and ten have now calloused. Suggestions from the community as to what might happen to any successful new trees have also been collected.

7. Did scions need to be grafted onto blackthorn or hawthorn?
Despite some books saying blackthorn, Kew informed us that it is hawthorn rootstock that is used and that blackthorn is a different genus.

8. Who takes the decision on what happens?
Because the Holy Thorn is regarded as sacred by countless people regardless of their faith or beliefs, the Team would like local people to agree what happens next.

9. Where can I find out more information?
Any updates will be posted on here and on the Glastonbury Holy Thorn Facebook page. See right for the link.

10. Is there a ceremony I can attend?
Members of the community are continuing to organise ceremonies and activities. You can find out more about these on our Facebook page. You can also contact Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre for information. Groups planning to hold ceremonies or services are asked to pass on information to the PRC, preferably in A5 flier format so they can place it on their notice board and share it with the community.

Who has produced this list of questions and answers?
Following a meeting hosted by Glastonbury Abbey on Friday 10 December, representatives from the local community, Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre, Glastonbury Conservation Society, Glastonbury Town Council, the local police, St John’s Church and Glastonbury Abbey have worked together to:
a) Agree to work together to keep everyone in touch with what is happening and co-ordinate activities to avoid duplication
b) Ensure everyone has a chance to have their say in what should happen to the Holy Thorn and its branches.