The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-24
GLASTONBURY ABBEY.
EnEIsnd's oldest Church Tor saIe-An APP
peal 10 American Episcopaiians.

To rHE EDIrOR OF TIE SUN-Sir: GlastOn-
bury Abbey Is In the market. II Is the prop
erty OF MIR. Stanley Austin. and he has already
advertised IL for sale. There has been for
some months q constant fear that this pic
turesque and historic place may be purchased
by some wealthy American for u private
residence. But the Right Rev. DR.. wilkinson.
the Anglican Bishop of Northern Europe. Is
now sending forth An appeal for funds to
enable him to purchase the abbey and It's
adjoining lands, for the purpose OF restoring
the abbey and some OF its old buildings, with
u view to It's becoming u college for the edu-
cation OF clergymen ordained for foreign
work. lie reminds us that Mr.. BeresfOrd
Hope purchased 81. Augustine's. Canterbury.
under similar circumstances. The Bishop
appeals to Americans. who have placed
memorials in the parish church at Stratford-
On-AvOn, st. Mar garet's Westminster and
Westminster Abbey. DIR. Wilkinson prom
ises the FIRST $4,000. and says he will be glad
10 hear from any Who may be interested In
the scheme If they will write TO him, Address
ing the Right Rev, Bishop wilkinson. Bradford
Court, near Taunton. England.
glastonbury has a special claim on Prot
estant Episcopalians in every part OF the
world, for at a time when il was not surpassed
In revenues by any OF the abbeys of England.
except Westminster. and exceeded in size all
the cathedrals of England except old St.
Paul's in London, IL was despoiled by that
monster Of Professionalism King Henry VIII,
Its last abbot. Richard Whiting. q venerable
man. was condemned for high treason at
Wells, drawn from that city to Glastonbury
on q hurdle. and despite his age was hanged
with two OF his monks on tho abbey grounds.
From that date, l540. the noble monastery
fell. to decay. and now IL Is likely to come
under the hammer of the auctioncer. to be
speaking Christians OF every land respond to
Bishop Wilkinson's appeal,
glastonbury y q great historic monument.
one which establishes the fact that there was
a British church In England long before the
landing Of Augustine in SOS. According to
landed IN England and preached the Gospel.
and a chapel dedicated to st. Joseph still
stands among, the ruins Of Glastonbury.
fabrication, but it is a curious fact that at
tne COUNCIL OF Basle. IN the year ltst. the
i fMsasn a, BISHOPS eiaimed pTeeedemSe before
Britain had been converted to Christianity
by st. Joseph. What is even more ~extraor-
and Archbishop Parker both claimed that
st. Joseph, was The first preacher OF the Gospel
IN SnI EpS Hss tbo There r4s, sS s no doubt that "a Fns;tOG
for from very early !, LINES It has been called
somewhere Se SPdtRRGi . spot. Tb Hss'i "a ev %is :
that in the year .So s.; Patrick visited Glss3
sufrragan Bishops. visited glastonbury st.
David was an uncle OF the renowned King
Arthur. who in 543 fell on the field Of battle
and was inferred within the walls OF the old
count OF the opening Of King Arthur's grave
by Henry II; Of England. Leland. the famous
t nbns SIavra ~ RIn;s sag Sstb bne s sDS h,s sO9 3ussS
Guinevere. King Edmund. KIM Edgar, Ed
mund Ironside. -Coel king Of Great Britain:
he father OF Helen. mother of Constan-
tine the Great. and many saints and holy men.
including 81. Joseph Of Arimsthea.
This historic SPOT should be saved for the
nses of the Church, and under the fostering
care of the Church IL may become one OF the
most interesting spots TO American tourists.
and one of the most venerable relics OF our
common Christianity.
AN ANGLICAN CLERGYMAN.
BRooELYN, November %.