A NEW Holy Thorn tree will be planted in Glastonbury this weekend to mark the accension of King Charles III to the throne.
Glastonbury Town Council has announced the planting as part of its two days of events for Michaelmas, the feast of St Michael the Archangel.
The programme of events will take place this weekend (September 24 and 25).
On Saturday, there will be a ceremonial planting of a new Holy Thorne tree in the garden of St Dunstan's House, Magdalene Street.
The tree was grown in Kew Garden from a scion (young shoot) of a tree planted on Wearyall Hill in 1952, the accession year of Queen Elizabeth II.
The new tree will commemorate the accession to the throne of King Charles III.
A town council spokesperson said: “Legend tells us that the tree sprouted from the Staff of Joseph of Arimathea, who founded the Abbey with the building of what was possibly the first church in Britain, even the world.
“It was destroyed by Puritans between the reigns of Charles I and II.”
Events will begin at Market Cross at 1pm a reading of the 1143 King Henry III Charter by Dr Tim Hopkinson-Ball's, chairman of the Glastonbury Antiquarian Society.
This will be followed by a blessing of a Rowan Memorial Tree and a procession to the Queen's Jubilee Green Canopy Oak in St Dunstan's car park, the first tree planted in Glastonbury to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
The two tree blessings will lead into the Holy Thorn planting.
A spokesperson added: “Events will also include readings, poetry, and songs from members of the Avalonian Free State Choir.
“On Sunday, September 25, in Glastonbury Town Hall from 2pm until 6pm, there will be a free screening marking the centenary of Alice Buckton’s 1922 film ‘Glastonbury Past and Present’.
“At 4pm, there will be another chance to see the Glastonbury St. George Mumming play by John Constable, followed by a talk by local author Paul Weston commemorating the late Queen with ‘The Glastonbury Royal Dynamic: from Jubilee to Michaelmas – Continuity, Inspiration, Regeneration’.
“Film rushes of this year’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant Celebrations in Glastonbury will also be shown. Refreshments will be available.”
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