The Council of British Druid Orders is a neo-pagan group established in 1989 which was originally formed to facilitate ceremonies at

Stonehenge Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, west of Amesbury. It consists of an outer ring of vertical sarsen standing stones, each around high, wide, and weighing around 25 tons, topped by connectin ...

. The Council's founder, Tim Sebastion, used the title "Archdruid of Wiltshire, Chosen Chief of the Secular Order of Druids, Conservation Officer for the Council of British Druid Orders and Bard of the Gorsedd of Caer Abiri (Avebury)." COBDO represents some sixteen British Druid Orders, and Stonehenge celebrations are still its main concern. Following the passing of Tim Sebastion, the main figures within COBDO are

Rollo Maughling Rollo Maughfling is the Archdruid of Stonehenge and Britain. He is a long-time campaigner for the restoration of traditional rights of access to druidic sites, and respect for ancient druidic rituals. He is also a founder member of the Council ...

and

Arthur Uther Pendragon Arthur Uther Pendragon (born John Timothy Rothwell, 5 April 1954) is a British eco-campaigner, Neo-Druid leader, media personality, and self-declared reincarnation of King Arthur, a name by which he is also known. Pendragon was the "battle c ...

, leader of the Loyal Arthurian Warband. The main website for COBDO has expanded beyond coverage of Stonehenge to provide a general description of Druidry as a spiritual faith.

Activities

The group is best known for presiding at mid-summer festivals held since 1999.Time Zones: Five Hours of Solstice Reverence and Revelry at Stonehenge
" ''Washington Post'', June 24, 2009. These festivals are a successor to the

Stonehenge Free Festival The Stonehenge Free Festival was a British free festival from 1974 to 1984 held at the prehistoric monument Stonehenge in England during the month of June, and culminating with the summer solstice on or near 21 June. It emerged as the major fre ...

that was held from 1974 to 1984. Within the context of Stonehenge, regular meetings representing different Druidic groups and individuals, the National Trust, English Heritage, the local Council, the police and traveller groups are held several times a year both before and after religious celebrations at the stones to discuss issues around open access including transport, road closures, public safety and disability access; members of COBDO are always attendant at these meetings, particularly Rollo Maughling and Arthur Pendragon. Arthur Pendragon has been particularly prominent in protests against local road development as well as open access.

Notable members

Rollo Maughfling Rollo Maughfling is the Archdruid of Stonehenge and Britain. He is a long-time campaigner for the restoration of traditional rights of access to druidic sites, and respect for ancient druidic rituals. He is also a founder member of the Council ...

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.cobdo.org.uk/
Tim: Chosen Chief of the Secular Order of Druids
- Tribute to Sebastion by Graham Harvey Modern pagan organisations based in the United Kingdom Neo-druid orders Neo-druidism in Britain Religious organizations established in 1989 Modern pagan organizations established in the 1980s

Activities

Notable members

References

Further reading

External links