Reclaiming an ancient religion

Christianity built some amazing churches and cathedrals in this country and it’s these places we tend to visit when we tour the UK. But the myths and legends of pre-Christian Britain are also fascinating, though sometimes overlooked. Traces of this mysterious time remain around the UK in the form of standing stones, the most famous of which is Stonehenge. I remember reading an excellent book Albion, a guide to legendary Britain which evoked this mythological landscape brilliantly. Unfortunately, this title is out of print but you could try The Enchanted Land: Myths and Legends of Britain’s Landscape
- its blurb says: “Ancient folklore is bursting with tales of the land; legends revolving around its hills and mountains, caves and hollows, and springs and wells. Such stories tell of how these physical features first came into being - be it to hide an errant knight or the direct result of a local giant’s feral rage. These tales add a richness and depth to local history throughout the land, and the repeated appearances of monsters, fairies, ogres and spirits make them a delight for all ages.”

These ancient customs and beliefs went underground for 2,000 years when Christianity came to dominate and the people who practiced the old ways of worship came to be known as pagans. The word pagan is derived from the Latin paganus, meaning country dweller but somehow became associated with all who were non-Christians, with an implied negative meaning.

Now, it looks like more and more people in the West are turning back to the ancient animist religion, drawn by its focus on nature and the earth and all its bounties, according to this BBC report:

My favourite legend, I think, is the story that brings together Christianity and the ancient pagan religion at one of the most sacred spots of ancient Britain, Glastonbury. Joseph of Arimathea is supposed to have brought the young boy Jesus to the UK. After the crucifixion, Joseph apparently brought the Holy Grail back to Glastonbury and buried it there. In pre-Christian folklore, Glastonbury is Avalon, and the entrance to the Underworld. Glastonbury is also bound together with Arthur , a pre-Christian mythic hero who was Christianised into the one we know today with the round table and the knights, and the quest of the Holy Grail (a magic cauldron in the ancient myth). It’s all a bit of a muddle but that’s part of it’s fascination for me - the themes of a messianic figure, resurrection and return and a quest for a holy vessel blur across pagan and Christian boundaries and underline for me our very human need for spiritual renewal whatever religous form that need ultimately takes.