Full Description
A history of holy wells from the pagan cult of water to the Christian wells of the middle ages, and including a full gazetteer.
The holy well is the absolute combination of mystery and utility. There are hundreds of them still to be found, some easily, others with good maps. This useful book lists them all, and in so doing takes us into the realm of a still little-known spiritual area... It also leads us through many exceedingly interesting though remote areas of Celtic and English Christian history. RONALD BLYTHE [TABLET] Holy wells are an ancient and mysterious part of the landscape, yet have been the subject of little serious study. James Rattue has been fascinated by them for many years, and has now written the first general history of wells and their religious and cultural associations. He begins the story in the ancient world, exploring the archetypal motifs present in the cult of water, then traces the distinctive development of the holy well in England, examining pagan wells and their Christianisation, the role played byecclesiastical history and institutions, the importance of saints' cults, and the social functions of wells in the middle ages.
Contents
List of Illustrations vi Introduction 1 1 Wellsprings of Worship: The Origins of Hydrolatry 8 2 Fons Bandusiae: Wells in the Ancient World 21 3 The Water of Redemption: Wells and Christianity 33 4 The Saxon Settlement: Wells and the Conversion of England 45 5 Unam Ecclesiam: Wells and the Medieval Church 63 6 At the Heart of the Community: Wells and Medieval Society 89 7 Christ is Truth, not Custom: Wells and the Reformation 101 8 The Two Cultures: Wells, Class and the Great Change 112 9 'This sick earth, this sick race of man': Wells and Suburban Angst 132 Addenda 149 Bibliography 150 Index of Wells in English Counties 173 General Index 180
