AN HISTORIAN has suggested the world famous religious relic the Holy Grail could be buried underneath a North Somerset church. The elusive treasure has captured people's imaginations across the globe, particularly since Dan Brown wrote The Da Vinci Code.

AN HISTORIAN has suggested the world famous religious relic the Holy Grail could be buried underneath a North Somerset church.The elusive treasure has captured people's imaginations across the globe, particularly since Dan Brown wrote The Da Vinci Code.Now Julius Herrstein, who lives in Wrington, says the sacred artefact could be hidden in All Saints Church in the village.Mr Herrstein, who is deputy chairman of Glenside Hospital Museum in Bristol, said: "One does not have to be a Sherlock Holmes to work out where the grail is hidden."The last abbot of Glastonbury was Richard Whiting, from Wrington."King Henry VIII offered him a lifelong pension if he gave up all the treasures of the abbey, which were substantial and included important documents like kings' divorce papers."Richard refused, was charged with theft and was hung drawn and quartered on Glastonbury Tor."He would not have sacrificed his life for a few gold trinkets. There must have been something far more valuable and something that would give Henry an enormous boost to his reputation."It must have been believed rightly or wrongly to be the grail."Wrington was searched and the priory destroyed because they thought he had hidden the grail in his own village."Today, All Saints Church has a side alter dedicated to the martyr Richard Whiting with his coat of arms picturing three fish."In the sanctuary hangs a light which many feel could mark the site where the grail is hidden.