Britain Declares Druidry a Religion

"Druidry has been recognized as an official religion in Britain for the first time, thousands of years after its adherents first worshipped in this country," reads the first line of a news story about a decision of the Charity Commission for England and Wales to an application of The Druid Network. The group, founded by neo-pagan Druid and Author Emma Restall Orr, will now benefit from a charitable tax status. Its standing as a religious body has also been confirmed.

The decision is the result of a process that spanned more than four years. It involved in-depth questioning of the applicants about their beliefs and practices, as well as the services they provide to the community. Druids in England are perhaps best known for organizing Midsummer rituals at locations such as Stonehenge, but The Druid Network also provides services to individuals and small groups. These include ministry in hospitals and prisons, and rites of passage for such occasions as the birth of a child or retirement from the work force.

To be recognized as a religion in Britain, a group must show evidence of benefit to the broader community, and not just to its adherents. The efforts of The Druid Network to preserve British heritage were underlined in the decision of the Charity Commission, as were the group's contribution to conservation of the natural environment.

Spokespersons for the group say the process was prolonged because of the need for the Charity Commission to become familiar with fundamentals of contemporary earth-based religions. This having now been accomplished, they believe other Pagan groups making similar applications will benefit from a more streamlined process.

While there is evidence of prohibition of Druids in Roman Gaul, it would appear the Druids of Britain were mostly assimilated into Roman culture. "With the coming of Christianity," tells a Druid history published by the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, "we enter the third period: in which the schools of the Bards became Christian schools, and continued to exist until the seventeenth century; and in which the Ovates probably became the village healers and midwives; while the Druids remained as the intellectual elite, and mostly converted to Christianity. This period lasted for a thousand years: from the triumph of Christianity over all of Europe by the sixth century, to the sixteenth century. During this millennium, Celtic and Druid spirituality was preserved by the Christian clerics who performed the valuable service of recording many of the stories and myths by which the oral teachings of the Druids were conveyed."

Interest in the ancient history of the British Isles began following the introduction of archaeology. After an initial period of intense interest in the Near East, Greece and Rome people in England were awakened to the possibility that there had also been such a rich past in their own country. "The Church had taught that we were savages until the arrival of Christianity. But with the translation and printing of the classical texts on the Druids, Europeans discovered that their ancestors were far from being savages. At the same time, reports were coming back from America of Native American people who, like their ancestors, had been untouched by Christianity, and yet were worthy of admiration."

The revival of Druidry is said to begin in the eighteenth century, with scholar William Stukeley. Investigation and reconstruction continues even today with scholars such as Ronald Hutton, John Michael Greer, Philip Carr-Gomm, and the recently deceased Isaac Bonewits. The decision of the Charity Commission does not automatically mean all those practising Druidry will be accorded special status, as it applies only to The Druid Network. There are a number of other Druid organizations in Britain. It remains to be seen if other groups will make similar applications for religious and charitable status.

Sources:
Martin Beckford, "Druidry recognised as religion in Britain for first time." Daily Telegraph

"A brief history of Druidry." The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids

"The Druid Network: Decision made on 21 September 2010." Charity Commission for England and Wales