of men & women of goodwill everywhere.
Wellesley Tudor-Pole OBE (23 April 1884 – 13 September 1968)
On the 23rd of March 2020, a stay-at-home order was issued to the UK, and all social contact was to cease. On that evening, the Glastonbury Unity Candle was lit in a livestream to hold the Silent Minute of Peace at 9pm. Its purpose was to offer companionship, healing, and connection at a time when it was felt it might be needed. To this day, volunteers continue to hold this space for people to join and hold peace in their hearts. In these dark and difficult times, people gather from all around the world and share their own peaceful messages of support.
The Silent Minute
During World War II, all over Britain and the Commonwealth, millions of people joined together every evening at 9.00pm just before the news, to the chimes of Big Ben, to pray for peace.
In the dark days of war the Silent Minute became a vast network of Light and Hope in the hearts of all people of goodwill. It had the blessing of King George VI, Sir Winston Churchill and his Parliamentary Cabinet, and it was also recognised by the US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Silent Minute was observed on land, at sea, on the battlefields, in air raid shelters and in hospitals. With Churchill’s support the BBC, on Sunday, 10th November 1940, began to play the chimes of Big Ben every evening at 9pm, on the radio, as a signal for the Silent Minute to begin.
The Glastonbury Unity Candle
The candles are made by Starchild, right here in the heart of Glastonbury. Each candle is charged with a unique infusion made with herbs, trees and flowers including the Glastonbury Thorn, and collected in tune with the cycles of the moon from various sites in and around Glastonbury.
Blue was chosen because there is a deep spiritual significance to it and is seen in many cultures and beliefs representing faith, devotion, peace, inner knowledge, love, tranquility and harmony.
Each host lights it in a way that is appropriate to them, so they are personally and energetically engaged in the process of igniting not only the flame of the Candle, but their own inner flame and reminded that peace starts within.