From Mr N. J. Inkley
Sir, - The elsewhere-ubiquitous bottle of water has now become
commonplace in church. It is not only the congregation that arrives
carrying them: I have seen them pop up from the choirstalls, even
on - and to be used from - the organ stool. Fortunately, the clergy
seem to be managing without, so far.
Recently, I attended a large diocesan service in a cathedral,
where the nave looked like a terraced street just after the milkmen
had been - except for the colour of the liquid, of course.
Church services now tend to be a little shorter than when I was
young, and all this attention to supposed thirst seems so
unnecessary, not to say rather irreverent.
NEIL INKLEY
6 Knot Lane, Walton-le-Dale
Preston PR5 4BQ