[This is one of six reports covering past Antiquarian Society lectures for which the Consoc newsletter had no space at the time. We caught up in Newsletter 141. —Ed.]

A talk by Adam Stout

Richard Beere was born in the mid-1450s to a local family and was possibly educated abroad, Adam Stout said in his talk to the Antiquarian Society in October. Beere became a deacon in 1479 and was installed as Abbot of Glastonbury in 1494 by Bishop Foxe, in place of Prior Thomas Wason, who had been selected by the monks.

   Foxe was a friend and supporter of Henry VII, who was anxious to appoint those favouring the Tudor dynasty. Beere was certainly loyal, providing the royal army with shelter in the Abbey precinct, and Henry VII with lodgings during Perkin Warbeck’s revolt of 1497. The king’s arms were also displayed alongside the west gate to the Abbey.

   In 1503–04 Beere headed an embassy to Rome to arrange the marriage of Catherine of Aragon and Prince Henry. After his return Beere, an able administrator, concentrated on managing the Abbey estates and on building projects, such as the saltire arches in the crossing to prevent the collapse of the central tower, as well as the Loretto and Edgar chapels, Sharpham Park house, and probably the crypt beneath the Lady Chapel.

   He promoted Glastonbury’s claims to the bones of Dunstan, commissioning a feretory for the relics, and supporting his patron Foxe in the latter’s dispute with Archbishop Wareham about Dunstan’s relics — Canterbury Cathedral also claimed to have them.

      Beere undertook a perambulation of the Twelve Hides of Glastonbury [the Conservation Society led a walk of his route last summer]. He took close interest in the cults of St Joseph of Arimathea and St Benignus, but he did not promote Glastonbury’s Arthurian traditions, possibly because his friend, the historian Polydor Virgil, was skeptical of them.

   Joseph of Arimathea was a different matter, however, and a series of miracles of healing at Glastonbury, together with Melkin’s Prophecy, were used to promote the cult. The crypt and significantly the well provided a focus for pilgrims.

      Beere commissioned copies of John of Glastonbury, and some were made on the printing presses that were new technology in Beere’s time. The holy thorn and walnut tree make their appearance at this time, though they were not connected to the Arimathean traditions for another century. The staff of Joseph — later of course a thorn staff — is seen in the sculpture and glass of this period.

   The Abbot rebuilt the church of St Benignus [today known as St Benedict’s church]. Significantly, it is in line with the Abbey church and Lady Chapel, thus connecting the cults of Benignus and Joseph. This connection can be seen in the series of roof corbels in the church.

   Beere died in 1525 and was buried in the Abbey church.     [2013 October 18]