SAINT DUNSTAN: SMITH, MONK, ABBOT, BISHOP, ARCHBISHOP,SAINT Dunstan, for whom our parish has been named was born about 909 in or near the small village of Baltonsborough, which lies five miles from the ancient shrine of Glastonbury. There his father, Hoerstan, a Danish thane and his mother, Cynethrith, a Saxon princess owned land. When this writer stood in Baltonsborough in 1988, he spoke with residents who remembered seeing the small thatched roof cottage in which Dunstan was supposed to have lived before it burned in the middle of the 20^th century. The parish church is dedicated to Dunstan and there still exists a ditch which is supposed to have been built by Dunstan.

Hoerstan's brother, Athelm, was the first bishop of the new nearby see of Wells and later became Archbishop of Canterbury. Alphege, bishop of Winchester, and Kinsage, bishop of Lichfield were also kinsmen. Dunstan was trained in his youth in the skills as a blacksmith as well as in the classics. He was sent very early to Glastonbury, that ancient seat of learning. Glastonbury was at this time a "royal island" and was under the king's special protection. It was, in fact, a deep swamp island completely surrounded by water and connected to the rivers which flowed to the sea. Glastonbury drew pilgrims not only from the west Saxon lands but also from far places because of its claim to ancient holiness and the Joseph of Arimathea legend. In Dunstan's time it was believed that the bones of St. Patrick were buried there along with other Celtic saints like Indracht and Benignus.

Dunstan had rejected his relatives urging to become ordained, but a serious illness before he could leave Glastonbury and when he recovered he had decided to become a monk. By this time Athelstan had been crowned king by Archbishop Athelm, Dunstan's uncle, and Dunstan went to court for his further education. The court experiences influenced his later life as he saw religion and politics played out together. He was taught the art of poetry, the singing of lays to the harp and the glories and history of his people. He became a skilled worker in precious metals. Rumors began to be circulated against him saying he was seeking occult knowledge.

Dunstan became unwelcome at the court of Athelstan because of the rumors, and he had to return to Glastonbury to live. A famous story comes from this period in Dunstan's life; One day when he was working in his cell a lovely maiden came to him and tempted him. Dunstan, knowing full well that a monk should not have sexual thoughts seized the maiden by the nose with his smith tongs. The girl then assumed the proper form of Satan and as he fled away screamed out: "O what has this bald fellow done to me !"

In 939 Athelstan died and his half-brother, Edmund, became king. The first thing Edmund did was to call Dunstan back to court. Dunstan remained the court cleric and earned a reputation as a "man of commendable life and learning in language". But Edmund was a weak king and easily swayed and soon Dunstan's enemies convinced him to take away all of Dunstan's titles and honors.

But, about 945 he changed his mind again and appointed Dunstan as Abbot of Glastonbury. The year is in dispute, but by 946 we have documents signed by Dunstan as Abbot.

Glastonbury, under Dunstan, was both an educational establishment of note and a place where the genuine monastic life following the Rule of St. Benedict was cultivated. Dunstan is credited with reforming all of the English monasteries from Celtic practices to Benedictine houses. We actually possess a copy of an illustration showing Dunstan at prayer with the following words, in his own hand: "Dunstanum memet clemens rogo Christe tuere, Ternerias me non sinas sorlisses porcellas" which can be loosely translated " Remember, I beg you, merciful Christ, to protect Dunstan, and do not permit the storms of the underworld to swallow him up". Under Dunstan Glastonbury grew to be an institution of a scale unparalleled in Saxon history both in physical size and reputation.

In 956 Edwy became king at age 15. When it came time or the coronation a question arose over the death of the previous king and a permanent separation between the king and Dunstan arose. A new Abbot was appointed for Glastonbury, and Dunstan fled to Blandinium on the continent for safety. Edwy's sole reign didn't last long and by 957 Edgar had become king of the Mercians and Northumbrians. He immediately recalled Dunstan and made him a part of the court. On October 21, 957, Dunstan was consecrated Bishop of Worcester by Oda, Archbishop of Canterbury. In 959 Dunstan became Bishop of London. There is still a church, St. Dunstan's, Stepney, in the east-side of London which claims to have been built by Dunstan when he was bishop. It was in this church in May 1988 that the then Bishop of London, Graham Leonard, commissioned 185 "Canterbury Pilgrims" of which number thus writer was one.

On October 21, 959, Dunstan became the XXVI Archbishop of Canterbury. He received the white woolen pallium from Pope John XII after a strenuous trek to Rome for that purpose. As Archbishop he is best remembered for his example of a 'godly life'. He has been called "the jewel of the English". In 973 Dunstan crowned Edgar as "king of all the Britains" at Bath Abbey. A plaque still marks the place. When Ethelred the Unready became king, Dunstan again found himself out of favor. As Archbishop of Canterbury he was too powerful to be directly attacked, so he simply removed himself to his see and lived out his days as a successful bishop.

Dunstan preached on Ascension Day, 988 "as he had never preached before". Three times he spoke forth. After eating his midday meal with his brethren he retired to his bed for the Benedictine afternoon nap, and never rose from it. The brothers found him smiling, with his 'head bathed in light'. The date was May 19, 988.

The cult of "Saint" Dunstan had begun while he was still alive due to the quality of his life, but within 10 years of his death he was beginning to be recognized as a saint due to miracles as well. Before the year 1000 Dunstan's tomb at Canterbury was the focus of pilgrimages. Until the great fire of 1067 the great altar at Canterbury was bounded on the left by St. Alphege and on the right by St. Dunstan. After the martyrdom of Thomas Becket the arrangement was changed. From then until this day the great altar is bounded on the left [facing the altar] by St. Thomas Becket and on the right by St. Dunstan. It should be remembered that Dunstan was, and to many still is, the first Canterbury saint.

There are four symbols which are usually associated with Dunstan, and which since the millennium have formed the Saint Dunstan logo. They are:

1. The tongs of a smith: recalling his first vocation and the story about Satan

2. The chalice: recalling that he became the patron saint of Goldsmiths

3. The crozier [or bishop's crook] : recalling that he was a bishop

4. The pallium:[the Y shaped wool scarf] recalling that he was an archbishop