English architect, illustrator, archaeologist, psychic researcher, and clergyman. A great-grandnephew of Captain Bligh of the "Bounty," he was first educated at home by his father, the headmaster of Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School, and later at Bath College. In 1888, he became a practicing architect in Bristol. His designs include Cossham Memorial Hospital, the schools of medicine and engineering at Bristol University, the Music School of Clifton College, and a number of private houses. He also became an expert on church architecture, and oversaw the restoration of several ancient churches. He is best known for his work as Director of Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey from 1908 to 1921. He claimed that he had channeled the spirit of a medieval monk, "Brother Johannes Bryant," who had guided his excavation of the Abbey's ruins, and shown him the original plan of the building. In 1919 he published these findings in a book called "The Gate of Remembrance." Eventually he was fired by Bishop Armitage Robinson, who disapproved of the architect's spiritualist pursuits. From 1921 to 1926, he was the editor of the periodical "Psychic Science". From 1926 to 1936 he was the secretary for the American Society for Psychical Research, and edited their magazine "Survival." He returned to the United Kingdom in 1936, and lived there until his death by heart attack. He was a Freemason, a Theosophist, and a member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia. He was also a Bishop in the Old Catholic Church of America.
English architect, illustrator, archaeologist, psychic researcher, and clergyman. A great-grandnephew of Captain Bligh of the "Bounty," he was first educated at home by his father, the headmaster of Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School, and later at Bath College. In 1888, he became a practicing architect in Bristol. His designs include Cossham Memorial Hospital, the schools of medicine and engineering at Bristol University, the Music School of Clifton College, and a number of private houses. He also became an expert on church architecture, and oversaw the restoration of several ancient churches. He is best known for his work as Director of Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey from 1908 to 1921. He claimed that he had channeled the spirit of a medieval monk, "Brother Johannes Bryant," who had guided his excavation of the Abbey's ruins, and shown him the original plan of the building. In 1919 he published these findings in a book called "The Gate of Remembrance." Eventually he was fired by Bishop Armitage Robinson, who disapproved of the architect's spiritualist pursuits. From 1921 to 1926, he was the editor of the periodical "Psychic Science". From 1926 to 1936 he was the secretary for the American Society for Psychical Research, and edited their magazine "Survival." He returned to the United Kingdom in 1936, and lived there until his death by heart attack. He was a Freemason, a Theosophist, and a member of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia. He was also a Bishop in the Old Catholic Church of America.
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