An Avalon Anthem

Flowing from ancient Avalon
Together we dream and we all belong
Open hearts singing pure and strong
Hon'ring our town as we sing along

Chorus:
Unity through community
Is the way we love – the way we live
Unity through diversity
A gift of peace to the world we give

Hear the heartbeat of this timeless land
Feel deep the strength of our maker’s hand
Bards reciting from our myths and lore
Here we are called to be restored

Chorus

Grace and beauty through the mists are seen
Enter the vale where the Tor soars green
From Holy Springs bless-ed waters flow
Thorn and Oak as one we grow

Chorus

A Sanctuary in this Sacred Land
All faiths and people – together we stand
A beacon bright to show we care
Candles of light with the world we share

Chorus x 2

The Glastonbury Unity Candle. Click image to find out more.

Watch and listen to the Anthem being sung for the very first time by the Avalonian Free State Choir and members of the Glastonbury Community. Glastonbury Frost Fayre - November 29th 2014.

The Development of the Anthem

The inspiration behind the Anthem was to create a community song that reflected the uniqueness, beauty, sacred power and spirituality of Glastonbury and Avalon, a song that can bring our community together, in both our diversity and our unity. A song through which we can all express the many gifts we can offer to the world and brings us all together in our community activities, our sacred festivals, our schools, and on our sacred land.

Lynne has been visiting to Glastonbury as a pilgrim since 1989, got married there in 1994 and relocated to the area in 2010. When Morgana West, co-founder and manager at Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre & Sanctuary had a dream about creating a new song for Glastonbury and asked her to produce the lyrics, she felt deeply called to do so.

For inspiration she meditated and walked through all parts of Glastonbury and over three days the verses and chorus flowed, centred on two powerful themes, Unity through Diversity promoted by the Glastonbury Reception Centre and the notion of Glastonbury as an inspirational place where all might live in harmony.

Both Morgana and Ananda O'Kelly helped to further develop the words. The music took longer via a classical version, then a guitar version until its culmination into a beautiful choral score written by Sally Pullinger for the Avalonian Free State Choir.

The song is a collective effort by several people and we offer it in the spirit of joining our hearts and voices, sharing and celebrating together the healing, love, beauty and belonging of our very own special Glastonbury community.