| Bidders in a cathedral auction are being given the opportunity to create a second Westminster Abbey in their own home using replica wall-hangings and polystyrene monuments.
Lincoln Cathedral is auctioning off items from the set of The Da Vinci Code, in which film-makers used the cathedral for the scenes from the book that are set in Westminster Abbey.
Many of the props used for the film, which starred Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou, have been stored in the Chapter House. The film-makers have given permission for them to be auctioned for cathedral funds.
Items can be viewed in the Chapter House and online. The cathedral is not setting a reserve price, and all bids are sealed. Speaking last week, Roy Bentham, the chief executive of Lincoln Cathedral, said: “We have absolutely no idea how much money we will make, but we had more than 1000 hits on the site in the first week. Anyone who happens to own a neo-gothic chapter house could make good use of these items, if they wanted to create a replica of Westminster Abbey.”
He said that the cathedral had had only positive responses from the move. In 2005, however, when the cathedral agreed to host the film company, there was some criticism from those who felt that The Da Vinci Code questioned orthodox Christian belief.
The Dean at the time, Dr Alec Knight, said the chapter saw the film as an opportunity to proclaim the gospel. He dismissed the view that Christians should avoid The Da Vinci Code (News, 27 May 2005).
www.lincolncathedral.com
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