Joseph of Arimathea might pass through the gospels very briefly, but he enjoyed a lively role in later Christian legends. According to various accounts, Joseph of Arimathea traveled to England where he founded the first Christian Church, was the protector of the Holy Grail, and became an ancestor of Lancelot or even of King Arthur himself.
Joseph of Arimathea and the Holy Grail
The most popular legends associated with Joseph of Arimathea involve his role as protector of the Holy Grail. Some tales say that he took the cup used by Jesus during the Last Supper to catch the blood of Christ during the crucifixion. Others say that Jesus appeared to Joseph in a vision and entrusted the cup to him personally. Whatever the case, he is supposed to have taken with him during his travels and any number of sites claim to be its burial location — including Glastonbury, England.
Joseph of Arimathea and British Christianity
Standard histories of Christianity say that missionaries were first sent to evangelize Britain in the 6th century. Legends about Joseph of Arimathea say that he arrived there as early as 37 CE or as late as 63 CE. If the early date were true, it would make him the founder of the first Christian church, pre-dating even the church in Rome. Tertullian does mention Britain being “subjugated to Christ,” but that sounds more like a later Christian addition, not a pagan historian.