The Gnostalgia Podcast On Holy Wells w/ Theo Howard
Dec 1, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Theo Howard, a podcaster and educator passionate about Christian tradition and pilgrimage, delves into the mystical world of holy wells. He discusses their historical decline due to the Reformation and modernization, while sharing his personal experiences at sacred springs like St Witter's. The duo explores the connections between water's symbolism, healing properties, and iconic sites like St Winifred's. They also examine the spiritual significance of wells in Arthurian legend and suggest ways to revive local practices around these sacred sites.
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Wells Were Core To British Spirituality
- Holy wells were once central to British Christian spiritual life but were marginalized by Protestant reform and 19th-century cultural centralization.
- Theo Howard highlights thousands of extant wells that retain local devotional importance and historic sanctity.
Visits To Dorset And Bisley Wells
- Theo Howard describes visiting St Witter's well in Dorset and feeling profound spiritual peace beside its lush, cliffside spring.
- He also recounts St John the Baptist's well in Bisley with a 1920s wooden Madonna that seems seamlessly continuous with older devotion.
Mineral Water Explains Some Healings
- Many holy wells have mineral profiles (iron, purity) that explain reported healing effects on eyes, joints, and general vitality.
- Theo connects traditional ritual uses (rubbing eyes, drinking) with plausible physical benefits confirmed by modern studies.
