Glastonbury, the Isle of Avalon, is famous throughout the world. Pilgrims from all corners of the earth have visited, and continue to visit this holy shrine. Here legend yields to history, and history runs up into legend, but there is little doubt that Glastonbury Abbey was the oldest religious foundation in the British Isles. The story of the Wattle Church is linked with the history and legend of Glastonbury. When in 1125, the Benedic tine historian, William of Malmesbury, came to Glastonbury Abbey, to write the history of this venerable place, at the invita tion of the monks, he said of the Wattle Chapel; The Old Church of Our Lady of Glastonbury did none other man's hands make, but actual disciples of Christ built it. He then goes on to say, The Church of which we speak is commonly called by the Saxons the old church,' on account of its antiquity. It was at first formed of wattles, and from the beginning breathed and was redolent of a mysterious Divine sanctity, which spread throughout the country. The actual building was insignificant, but it was so holy.
William adds, And so the church of Glastonbury is the most ancient, of all those I know, in England; hence its name. The mortal remains of many saints, are preserved there. Therefore it can be said that here the earliest British Christian Church remained in the hands of the Britons, while other parts were invaded and conquered by the Saxons; here Christ was still acknowledged, and when Glastonbury, in its turn was conquered and became English the Saxons had already joined the Christian Standard, so that there was no break in the one true worship.