St Materianna’s Three Ladys
“So off we went on Quest 35 to Wales and the West Country. It is always a great pleasure to travel through these very special lands in search of our (Craft) history and to be able to join up more dots and allow the pieces of this real-life puzzle to fall into place. As always we experienced ‘watchful’ eyes looking over us and ‘time and space’ dancing round us. Again i am streamlining my write-ups in order to catch up – but more can be added over time, either here or as seperate posts. I am not including links this time as good info and webpages are not easy to find, but be asured all the relevant info is here and if folks are interested, anyone can do a web search”.
Day one: Wednesday 31st August 2022:
- St Edward the Confessor Church: 6 Church Street. Leek: Restored in 1839 AD. The original Norman church burnt down in 1297 AD. We were not alone on this occasion, for as has happened on numerous past quests a Watcher, whom turned up out of nowhere, sat in the church keeping a watchful eye on us. Ancestry line: Lord Robert De Neville 1240 AD born Raby Castle (20xGGF)
Grail Quest Video Link: Craft information and symbolism explained:
St Edward the Confessor Church. Leek
A four night stay at Evenjobb. Wales
Day two: Thursday 1st September 2022:
- St Davids Church: Heyope Road. Heyope. Knighton: A previous site of St Marys Church in 1462, which was flood damaged, thus St Davids was built in 1844 AD. Ancestry line: Lord Edward Neville 1471 AD born Raby Castle. Died 18th Oct 1476 Priory Church. Abergavenny (13xGGF) (Was at this church in 1451, prior to flood that damaged the church)
- Knighton Museum: 1 Broad Street. Knighton: A map in the museum that was donated holds a firm clue to the Grail itself.
- St Edwards Church: Church Road. St Edwards Close. Knighton: The church tower is of Medieval origin from 1366/1368 AD. The restoration is from 1752 AD, and further in 1877 AD. “The centre of the Earth. Holding the secrets of Atlantis Itself”. A peaceful energy here. Ancestry line: Lord Edward Neville 1471 AD born Abbergavenny. A direct connection to Lord Robert De Neville 1172-1248. 78 years. Raby Castle. A connection to the area and knowledge. The start of the Neville surname in respect of May 1254, who took her mothers surname upon her death.
- St Mary Magdalene Church: Bleddfa. Beacon Hill. Radnor: ‘The Place of the Wolf‘. Bleddfa means ‘the abode of wolves’, and wolves were still to be found in Radnor Forest until Tudor times. The church dates from the early 13th century and latter part also. The wooden bellcote dates from 1711, and the south porch is 15th century. For many years a mysterious mound at the west end of the church was thought to be a prehistoric burial chamber, but when it was excavated in the 1960s it was discovered to be the base of a substantial stone tower to the church. Excavations showed that the tower had been burned down, assumed to have happened during the revolt of Welsh patriot Owain Glyndwr in the 15th century. A connection here to royalty too, but maybe not in a way expected… A Keystone Church: not all is as it seems….
- Arthurs Stone: Dorstone. Hereford: A Neolithic tomb dating to 3700 BC. A place so great in its time that many came to worship here, but now at the side of a small road. Two knights fought here during the War of the Roses (1455-1487) Knight Turberville was killed here. Ancestry line: Barron George Neville: 1440 AD born Abergavenny. It has been suggested that Lord Edward Neville 1417-1476 (16xGGF) Ist Lord of Abergavenny fought Knight Turberville.
Grail Quest Video Link: Craft information and symbolism explained:
Day three: Friday 2nd September 2022:
- St John the Baptist Church: Stokesay. Craven Arms: The original chapel was buit in 1150 AD, as a chapel for the castle. Restored in 1654 AD, with past Norman features visable. Ancestry line: Earl Gospatrick Mac Maldred 1042 AD born Bamburgh. Northumbria (25xGGF) Area connection to Lord Maldred Fitz Dolfin born Raby Castle 1157 AD-1183 AD
- Land of the Lost Content: The Old Market Hall. Market St. Craven Arms: Museum of collectables from throughout time. A point of interest.
- Hopton Castle: Craven Arms: “In Hopton’s mound one can truly see, a sight of sights for eternity” A peaceful site with lovely energies, but with ‘pockets’ of time standing still or of being of ‘no-time’, further still a link lay here with the Mark of ‘Eternity’. Ancestry line: Lord Uchtred Fitz Maldred 1075 born Raby Castle. (24xGGF)
- Clun Castle: Newport Street. Clun. Craven Arms: A Norman Castle established by a Norman Lord in 1033 AD, as ‘odd’ as that may sound. Ancestry line: Lord Uchtred Fitz Maldred 1075 born Raby Castle (24xGGF) Area connection to Knight Tescelin (Clarke) born 1040-1085 AD in Dijon France. As we have visited this castle previously, and it was arather long walk over rough terrain, we declined on this occasion.
Grail Quest Video Link: Craft information and symbolism explained:
St John the Baptist Church. Stokesey
Day four: Saturday 3rd September 2022:
- St Laurences Church: 2 College Street. Ludlow: Built in 1056 AD when the Normans founded Ludlow itself in the late 11th century. A large and bustling church which seemed very popular as a tourist atrraction. Ancestry line: Lord Edward Neville 1471 AD born Abergavenny (13xGGF)
- Ludlow Market: Historic market town and a point of interest.
Day five: Sunday 4th September 2022:
- Holy Trinity Church: Watermoor Road. Cirencester: Built in 1872 AD on a much older site that is said to be the gateway to the ‘Middle-Land’. Contains some very significant and important artwork within… Ancestry line:Lieutenant Ralph Neville 1832 AD born Lewes Sussex. (3xGGF) A Keystone Church: The Grail was said to have been here from 49 AD-78 AD, for 29 years.
Grail Quest Video Link: Craft information and symbolism explained:
Holy Trinity Church. Cirencester
A four night stay at Otter Rise near Honiton
Day six: Monday 5th September 2022:
- St Benedicts Church: Benedict Street. Glastonbury: Built in 1363 AD replacing an 11th century Norman chapel, originally dedicated to St. Benigows, a great freind of St. Patrick. Ancestry line: Lord John Neville 1337 AD born Raby Castle (17x GGF) A Keystone Church: The Grail was here from 37 AD-49 AD for 12 years.
- Glastonbury Abbey & King Arthur’s Tomb: Magdalene Street. Glastonbury: Built 765 AD, a fire occurred in 1184 AD, rebuilt in 1269 AD. Ancestry line: John Clarke 1746 AD born Farway Devon (5xGGF). Also a connection to Lancelot Desposyni born 520 AD in Bretayne France.
- Chalice Well: Chilkwell Street. Glastonbury: A place of spirituality and peace for more than 2000 years. Lovely energies and a true sanctuary in time. Ancestry line: John Clarke 1746 AD born Farway Devon (5xGGF)
St Benedicts Church 
Chalice Well Gardens 
Glastonbury Abbey
Day seven: Tuesday 6th September 2022:
- Church of St Decuman: Brenden Road. Watchet: the chancel was built in 1263 AD, with ‘add-ons’ in 1497 AD. It is said that a ‘Watcher’ once revealed himself at this place. Ancestry line: Sir Thomas Woodchurch 1216 AD born Woodchurch Kent (23xGGF)
- Barrow Mump and St Michael’s Church: Barrow Bridge. Taunton: A medieval church on top of Barrow Mump and seen for miles around, built 1439 AD, also known as St Michael’s Borough. “A place of great spirituality and the gate to all knowledge”. Wonderful views across the surrounding countryside if one is up for the challenge of the climb – as i certainly was! It is a scheduled monument and a grade two listed building; the church ruin on top. Although there is some evidence of Roman visitation, the first fortification of the site was the construction of a Norman motte. It hs been called King Alfred’s Fort, however there is no proof of use by King Alfred the Great. Ancestry line: Sir Thomas Woodchurch 1216 AD born Woodchurch Kent (23xGGF)
- All Saints Church: The Hill. Langport: Of 12th century origins and rebuilt in the 15th century. The East window is of Medieval glass still. The ghost of a monk is said to ‘roam’ the church and grounds shouting prayer to ward off the evil spririts.
- The Hanging Chapel: The Hill. Langport: A 13th century archway or gateway that spans the road, built in 1229 AD. Previously known as Chantry Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It became a masonic hall in 1891 and is currently leased to Portcullis Freemasons Lodge, by the town council.
Grail Quest Video Link: Craft information and symbolism explained:
Day eight: Wednesday 7th September 2022:
- Boscastle: Like Tintagel, a lot less energy now than ever once was, for many reasons known to Craft. But still a nice experience to wander around this pretty town.
- King Arthurs Great Halls: Fore Street. Tintagel: A magificant building which has become a popular tourist attraction due to the ‘King Arthur’ legends, and still used by the Freemasons. A sacred underground spring flows onto the nearby land which is sadly not accesable – we did ask! But the experience is well worth a look…
- St Materiana’s Church: Tintagel: A beautiful church, both magical and inspirational, that stands alone on the cliff top and a church close to both our hearts. The first church here was built in the 6th century, the present one in th 12th century. This would be my third visit, a profound and spiritual place with meanings in time that belong to me and my connection to our lady Mary Magdalene… Ancestry line: Barron Christopher Neville 1587 AD born Birling Kent (10xGGF)
One conclusion and obervation i can take from Quest 35 would be the prolification of Craft animal symbolism in evidence, especially the wolfe, the eagle and the serpent or dragon, in particular the serpent which seemed to appear in almost every church, it is as if there was a message there somewhere…. Here are a selection.
The Serpents of Quest 35
‘The Keeper of Scrolls’
Published March 2023
moon.willow@ntlworld.com