Did Jesus visit the Westcountry?
A NEW film suggests that Jesus may have come to the Westcountry, as described in the hymn Jerusalem.
The documentary, And Did Those Feet, explores the story behind the legend which survives in the hymn, for which William Blake wrote the words.
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The legend claims Jesus visited several places in the Westcountry, such as Cornwall's Roseland peninsula and Glastonbury in Somerset, with his uncle, Joseph of Arimathaea.
In the film, Scottish researcher Dr Gordon Strachan said it is plausible Jesus may have visited Britain to further his learning.
Ted Harrison, the film's director and producer, said yesterday: "There is a very much closer connection between early Christianity and the classical Greek and Roman world than previously thought.
"If somebody was wanting to learn about the spirituality and thinking not just of the Jews but also the classical and Greek world he would have to come to Britain, which was the centre of learning at the time."
Dr Strachan, a Church of Scotland minister who lives in Edinburgh, lectures on the history of architecture at Edinburgh University.
The film also explores how St Augustine heard the legend of Jesus's visit when he came to England around 597AD.
He heard that Jesus built a chapel in Glastonbury and wrote to the Pope to tell him about it.
Mr Harrison said: "The concrete evidence is this reference by St Augustine that at Glastonbury there was a small building or church that was put up by Jesus, built by the hand of the Lord himself. But the medieval Glastonbury Abbey has been built on top of it."
The documentary also claims that Britain was at the forefront of learning and scholarship in the first century AD.
The 45-minute film will be launched at the British Film Institute in London tomorrow.
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by Edna Booth, Greater Manchester
Tuesday, February 16 2010, 7:45PM
“Jesus, the Man, existed! I am not a religeous-nut. Was he "divine", or just another man. The first line in my Grammar School Divinity Notebook (taught by a Methodist Minister in 1945)said "Jesus was the first communist! He lived; he was a political and religeous agitator! And he suffered for his beliefs.
If we could live by his beliefs the world would be a better place than it now is!
Why should not the Lad have come on an adventurous trip to Glastonbury and the West (in search of tin etc.) with his Uncle Joe?
Have any of you lot been to Glastonbury? Felt the vibes?
There is no reason why the legend should not be true. St Augustine was close enough to the relevant time...and truth is often passed down in legendary hearsay.
But religeous beliefs apart, would it not be comforting to have the feeling that this great Man (divine or not - and a son of God, as we all are, regardless of one's definition of God) "walked upon England's mountains green" and that Jerusalem was "builded here, among those dark Satanic mills"? If only!”
by LAIQA BROWNE, Glastonbury
Friday, December 04 2009, 11:04PM
“As a Glastonbury Town Councillor, I am very interested in gaining more info on this documentary. The BFI DID NOT show the film today! Cannot find a Dr Gordon Strachan at the university of Edinburgh! Is this real? If so, can anyone help me get to know more & possibly arrange a viewing in the west country?”
by Pawl, kernow next to Engerland just like Wales
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 2:04PM
“Ignore Fat Ger from Truru. he's an English incomer with an imperialist mentality.
T Shirts out of stock. Cornwall Next to England just like Wales now only available from Cornish Heritage”
by Catalyst, Cornwall
Monday, November 30 2009, 3:03PM
“Done that thanks Jools, but it just made me laugh more...
This whole thoery has got more holes in it than a teabag.”
by Freethinker, Cornwall
Monday, November 30 2009, 1:54PM
“Considering we live in a agnostic/Darwinistic society today with not much spirtual or moral belief what so ever, this certainly is an intresting thought. I'm not religious myself, more an open minded thinker to life. Christ certainly viewed as a modern day threat/terrorist by the tyranical early Roman Empire of time. It seems that the true Christain faith is attacked just as much as the Muslim faith is today by powerful establishments. Overall, any information on Jesus Christ's journey's to other lands is of intrest. I look foward to the documentary. Freethinker”