Living Stream

Excellent and innovative historical study... Rattue steers us clearly through a succinct exposition of the origins, changes in use, and development of popular and elite rituals covering British wells and springs... an invaluable history of their cultural importance to local communities, stripping away the false accretions of centuries of romantic myth and legend. ALBION The holy well is the absolute combination of mystery and utility. There are hundreds of them still to be found, some easily, others with good maps. This useful book lists them all, and in so doing takes us into the realm of a still little-known spiritual area... It also leads us through many exceedingly interesting though remote areas of Celtic and English Christian history. RONALD BLYTHE, TABLET Seminal, original and genuinely historical study whose fresh waters flow into many fields. CHURCH HISTORY (US) An enterprisingly stimulating book