Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea, the rich man mentioned in all four Gospels, who buried the Lord in his own new tomb. He would have been quite old at the time of Jesus'crucifixion and was likely preparing for his own death. He was secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of persecution, and was a member of the Sanhedrin but was against the council and their actions. The fact that he was given the body indicates he had some rightful claim to the body, only in the case of relatives. The Jewish Talmud describes him as the younger brother of Mary, Jesus great uncle. It was the practice that upon the death of a father, another male relative usually an uncle was declared legal guardian of the children. Joseph was likely Jesus' guardian after his father Joseph's death estimated when Jesus was approximately 13.

Traditions say that Joseph brought the gospel to Britain very few years after the crucifixion. We find this account recorded by Cardinal Baronius, the 16th century Roman Catholic historian. He states that it was in the year A.D.35 that Joseph of Arimathaea, (5 years after Jesus was put to death). Lazarus (whom Jesus raised from the dead), Mary and Martha, Lazarus's sisters, Marcella their maid, and Maximin a disciple, were put into aboat without sails or oars, and that they eventually came to Marseilles in France and afterwards crossed to Britain. His companions are also stated to have included Trophimus Cleon, Eutropius, Restitutus (the man born blind), Martial, Saturninus, Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. Lazarus is to this day recognised as having become first Bishop of Marseilles while the names of the others are saints in the records of the Gallic Church. Other books and legends say that Mary Magdalene was pregnant with Jesus' child.

And so Joseph and his little party came to Britain, sailing inland to the Isle of Avalon which we now know as Glastonbury. In those days the sea which is now fourteen miles away came much further inland and lapped the foot of Glastonbury Tor, the 500-foot high hill which dominates the countryside for miles around. Joseph is said to have planted his staff in the soil of Wearyall Hill, and there it took root and grew into a thorn tree. Joseph and his companions were met by King Arviragus who granted them tax-free twelve hides of land. A hide is thought to have been 160 acres, so that the total area represented 1,920 acres. We find this Royal Charter recorded in the official archives from that day in the Domesday Book, published in 1087.

Joseph and his companions now erected what must have been the first Christian church above ground. It was made from wattles daubed with mud, and was thatched with reeds, and when completed it measured 60 feet long and 26 feet wide, approximately the same dimensions as the Tabernacle in the wilderness. In a year 630 the Romans destroyed it and built a beautiful chapel over it. In 1184 fire destroyed it, a Norman chapel was built in the same spot immediately after. Its ruins still standing. Joseph as well as all his companions are said to be buried there is well as many others. This chapel is also called St. Mary's. The graves are empty today but an empty stone sarcophagus remains within.

There is some reason to believe Joseph was already familiar with the British Isles long before he became a disciple of Jesus. He was a man of social distinction and official rank, was an honorable counselor, a good and just man, a rich man. The Latin Vulgate renders "honourable counsellor" as 'nobilis decurio.' And 'Decurio' was the name given to a town counsellor and also to an officer in the Roman Army. the officer in charge of a tin mine was also called a 'decurio.' A common phrase in the tin mining areas of southern England, " Joseph was in the trade". If so, then it may be said with certainty that Joseph would have come to Britain, and probably not once but many times. Britain was the main source of tin. The British Isles were referred to by classical writers as the Cassiterides - tin-bearing islands.