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I am not necessarily a Christian, but this pisses me the fuck off. f\
Vandals have destroyed one of the most celebrated Christian pilgrimage sites in Britain and chopped down a tree said to have sprouted from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea 2,000 years ago.
The Holy Thorn Tree of Glastonbury, Somerset, is visited by thousands every year to pay homage and leave tokens of worship. Those visiting today were moved to tears on finding the tree cut to a stump.
The sacred tree is unique in that it blossoms twice a year - at Christmas and Easter - and sprigs taken from the thorn are sent to The Queen each year for the festive table.
Avon and Somerset Police have launched an investigation after locals found that vandals had hacked off the branches of the iconic tree. They were dumped next to the trunk which is protected by a metal cage.
Locals wept openly today at the foot of the tree, on the town's Wearyall Hill opposite its world-famous Tor as they struggled to contain their emotion.
Katherine Gorbing, curator of Glastonbury Abbey, said: 'The mindless vandals who have hacked down this tree have struck at the heart of Christianity.
'It holds a very special significance all over the world and thousands follow in the footsteps of Joseph Arimathea, coming especially to see it.
'It is the most significant of all the trees planted here and can be linked back to the origins of Christianity.
'When I arrived at the Abbey this morning you could look over to the hill and see it was not there.
'It's a great shock to everyone in Glastonbury - the landscape of the town has changed overnight.'
Glastonbury Mayor John Coles rushed to the tree site after he heard the news.
Mr Coles, 66, said: 'I'm stood on Wearyall Hill looking at a sad, sad, sight. The tree has been chopped down - someone has taken a saw to it.
'Some of the main trunk is there but the branches have been sawn away. I am absolutely lost for words - I just do not know why people would want to do this.
'This tree was visited by thousands of people each year and is one of the most important Christian sites. It is known all over the world.'
Deputy Mayor William Knight, 63, added: 'This is absolutely mindless. We are all devastated.'
Vandals have destroyed one of the most celebrated Christian pilgrimage sites in Britain and chopped down a tree said to have sprouted from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea 2,000 years ago.
The Holy Thorn Tree of Glastonbury, Somerset, is visited by thousands every year to pay homage and leave tokens of worship. Those visiting today were moved to tears on finding the tree cut to a stump.
The sacred tree is unique in that it blossoms twice a year - at Christmas and Easter - and sprigs taken from the thorn are sent to The Queen each year for the festive table.
Avon and Somerset Police have launched an investigation after locals found that vandals had hacked off the branches of the iconic tree. They were dumped next to the trunk which is protected by a metal cage.
Locals wept openly today at the foot of the tree, on the town's Wearyall Hill opposite its world-famous Tor as they struggled to contain their emotion.
Katherine Gorbing, curator of Glastonbury Abbey, said: 'The mindless vandals who have hacked down this tree have struck at the heart of Christianity.
'It holds a very special significance all over the world and thousands follow in the footsteps of Joseph Arimathea, coming especially to see it.
'It is the most significant of all the trees planted here and can be linked back to the origins of Christianity.
'When I arrived at the Abbey this morning you could look over to the hill and see it was not there.
'It's a great shock to everyone in Glastonbury - the landscape of the town has changed overnight.'
Glastonbury Mayor John Coles rushed to the tree site after he heard the news.
Mr Coles, 66, said: 'I'm stood on Wearyall Hill looking at a sad, sad, sight. The tree has been chopped down - someone has taken a saw to it.
'Some of the main trunk is there but the branches have been sawn away. I am absolutely lost for words - I just do not know why people would want to do this.
'This tree was visited by thousands of people each year and is one of the most important Christian sites. It is known all over the world.'
Deputy Mayor William Knight, 63, added: 'This is absolutely mindless. We are all devastated.'
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