02Knights Templar - Julian Emperor

CELTIC AND EARLY ENGLISH SAINTS
monastic life. St Dunstan is regarded as a pivotal figure in
restoring these traditions and re-invigorating the English
Church. He was born in 909 AD at Baltonsborough, close to
Glastonbury in Somerset. St Dunstan came from an important
family and was sent to Glastonbury to be schooled. At
the time the abbey at Glastonbury was in ruins and he received
his education there from Irish monks. His father was a
Wessex nobleman called Heorstan and his mother
Cynethryth was said to have been a devoted Christian. His
uncle Athelm was an even more significant figure who was
made Archbishop of Canterbury in 914. St Dunstan developed
a reputation as a keen student with an aptitude for artistic
and academic pursuits.
He served at St Mary’s church in Glastonbury before becoming
a member of Athelm’s household at the request of
his uncle. His success there led to him being called to join
the court of King Athelstan. However, in 935 AD, his service
at King Athelstan’s court came to an abrupt end when
he was accused of being a magician who studied witchcraft
and the occult. It is curious to note that the charges made
against him were that he had been ‘studying the vain poems
and futile stories of the pagans’. (Oxford Dictionary of Saints,
David Farmer, p.152) Some have speculated that he was the
victim of jealousy at court but it seems likely that his love
of study simply drew him to look outside the narrow confines
of learning imposed upon him. He subsequently travelled
to Winchester where he took monastic vows under
Elphege, Bishop ofWinchester. St Dunstan then returned to
Glastonbury where he lived as a hermit and devoted himself
to the pursuit of the arts and crafts, practising and perfecting
such skills as writing, painting, metalwork and playing
the harp. He is thought to have included a small self-
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