Founded by Joseph of Arimathaea, Christ's great-uncle
Also: Irish and Scottish Ancestry
The Legends of Glastonbury and other lost history..
"The reason, today, we are so unaware of the fact that the British church was the true church established by Joseph of Arimathaea, by the direction of St. Philip, is because most all the records have been destroyed. There have been enough records to survive, though, to establish beyond all doubt that the church of Britain (not to be confused with the present day Anglican Church of England) was the true church, before being Romanized. For this reason most everyone has assumed that the true church was the Roman Catholic Church, which is entirely false. Neither the Roman Catholic Church nor her Protestant daughters represent the true church established by our Messiah. There was a church established at Rome, and Linus {2nd Tim 4:21} (the son of Caractacus) was appointed by the Apostle Paul to be the first Bishop, and it was not related in any way to the Roman Catholic Church, ever! It was called, Basilica Di Pudenziana (also the Palace of the British)."
Despite what the Catholic Church states, the Catholic Church cannot really trace it's roots all the way back to Peter one of the Twelve Apostles. And while the Roman Catholic hierarchy was founded about A.D. 350, after Constantine; The first real Catholic Church was not formed until A.D. 590-604 with the first real Pope being Gregory I (who refused the title!). The first Roman Bishop to adopt the title "Pope" was Boniface III in A.D. 610. So before that the world new nothing of a Pope.
Naturally, the Pope of Roman Catholicism could not make the claims to godly power on earth as he does today (the binding and loosing of souls in Purgatory, possessing the Keys to Heaven, Christ's Vicar on earth, sole authority to interpret Scripture, Sainting deceased people, Extreme Unction...) if it were disclosed that he is not in a direct line from Apostle Peter (Not that the wild claims to power by the Popery could ever be reconciled with Biblical Scripture anyway, but that is a different topic for a different study. (See: The History of Christianity (Roman), An Account of the Inquisition, Do Catholics Worship the Mother Mary? And if they do, is it against God's Word?, Mother Mary Apparitions: The hidden dark side, Exposing the emergence of the first beast of Revelation chapter 13).
But it should be noted that Jesus did NOT appoint Peter to the headship of the Apostles and expressly forbade any such notion, as stated in:
Luke 22:24-26 (Jesus speaking with the 12 Apostles)
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger (KJV)
(See also: Eph 1:22-23, 1st Cor 3:11, and Col 1:18).
But there were Christian Churches starting in 37 A.D. when there was established by Joseph of Arimathaea the first above ground church in the world at Glastonbury. Glastonbury lies in the heart of Somerset County, in southwest England. In early British times Glastonbury was actually a small island (the waters have since dried up - as late as the early part of the 16th century). You will remember this Joseph of Arimathaea from Scripture, he is the one who provided the tomb for the Messiah Jesus Christ to buried in:
John 19:38
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. (KJV)
Luke 23:52-53
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. (KJV)
Joseph of Arimathaea was also a member of the Sanhedrin that had manipulated the Roman government into crucifying Jesus Christ, but Joseph did not vote for it. There is reason to believe that Joseph was not present at the final trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin, and that perhaps Jesus Himself asked Joseph not to attend*, but there is no mention of it in the Bible either way, other than "The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them" {Luke 23:51}. History records that Joseph left the Sanhedrin in 36 A.D.*
* Dr. E. Raymond Capt, M.A.; Traditions of Glastonbury pg.20
* Dr. E. Raymond Capt, M.A.; Traditions of Glastonbury pg.21
Luke 23:50-51
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Joseph is also the great-uncle to Jesus Christ on Mary's side* (obviously, for God was Jesus' Father). History also records that Jesus Christ was with Joseph of Aramathaea in Glastonbury during His twelfth through thirtieth years where He (Jesus) is not mentioned in Scripture*.
* The Harlein Manuscripts - 38-59f, 193 b (in the British Museum).
* Dr. E. Raymond Capt, M.A.; Traditions of Glastonbury pgs.3-10
Below, we will excerpt from a well researched article (reformatted) by Clifton A. Emahiser, and at the end of this study we supply a list of referenced materials as well as relative Bible studies on our site that further examine some of the topics brought up in the below more deeply.
Click on a red subtitle to go down to it, or scroll down page in order (recommended):
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INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBJECT
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IRISH AND SCOTTISH GENEALOGY (INFORMATION OF RELATED PEOPLES)
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LONG BEFORE THERE WAS EITHER A PROTESTANT OR ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, THERE EXISTED AN IRISH CHURCH
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FIRST IRISH CULDEE CHURCH ALMOST DIES OUT
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THE BRITISH CELTIC CHURCH ALMOST FADES FROM VIEW
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THE BRITISH CELTIC CHURCH REBOUNDS TO LIFE AGAIN
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THEN ENTERS AUGUSTINE
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KING HENRY II SOLD OUT THE CELTIC CHURCH TO ROME
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ROMAN CATHOLICISM SITS ON A FALLACIOUS FOUNDATION
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LIST OF REFERENCE MATERIALS AND OTHER RELATED STUDIES