From the Revd Andrew Martlew
Sir, - On Monday of last week, we visited Durham Cathedral, and
I was disconcerted by the number of men in the church who were
wearing hats.
The next day, while on duty as Honorary Chaplain at York
Minster, I politely asked a gentleman from Wigan to remove his hat.
Shortly afterwards, I was reminded by a member of the Visitor
Experience Department that it was the Dean's policy that men could
wear hats in her cathedral.
Since these two cathedrals seem no longer to regard themselves
as sacred spaces, would it not be more honest to hand them over to
English Heritage to run as unambiguous tourist attractions with
occasional services at agreed times? I am sure that a jolly young
re-enactor in a cassock would deliver a far better visitor
experience than a conventional old clergyman like me.
ANDREW MARTLEW
Balne Moor Farm
Balne Moor Road
Balne, Goole DN14 0EN
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