Background to Cathedrals

Other than our experiences in Ile de France the initial source of information about the Cathedrals of England was "The Cathedrasls of England" by Pevsner and Metcalf .  We have also acquired a book from enjoyEngland.com giving 365 Churches, Abbeys and Cathedrals.  As with everything else emanting from the UK we paid a lot less than the Stg5.99 cover price (we got it at Academic Remainders for $A4.95)

The topic has also been informed (I felt nauseous typing that) bymy memory of sites visited by the Mayland Women's Intstitute and Latchingdon Parish Summer outings. At the risk of boring folk with Old Father Flabmeister's memories of days gone by both of those organisations deserve a few words.

The WI was the main organisation providing some sort of social focus for the village of Mayland.  This was - and probably still is - a strange little place with a Church somewhat over a mile from the centre of the village, 2 shops and no pub!  It appears from the page linked above that the pub situation has changed somewhat - as has the population, which at 3401 would be about 8 times what it was when we lived there (athough I have difficulty guessing how many folk lived  at the extension in Maylandsea - mainly a summer enclave).  The big events were coach outings to Stately Homes, Cathedrals and (of course) the "seaside".  These semed a huge adventure in my youth going to places as far as 40 miles away!

Latchingdon was the next village to the West: - from the linked page it doesn't seem to have grown much since I left - it was always bigger than Mayland in those days.  In fact, with only 1 pub listed while I have clear memories (altthough they start to get a bit hazier once I passed 17 for some reason) of 3 very active ones in the village. I attended church in that village after the vicar of Mayland failed to support Dad in a dispute with the Church.  It seemed a major trek to go some 2 miles on my bike on a Sunday!  Again, the congreation used to organise coach outings to various spots in the summer.

One of my concerns about Cathedrals in the UK is that they are used by the Church as revenue raising facilities.  My memory of a visit to Cantebury Cathedral in 1979 was that you couldn't see the architecture for all the mendicant signs.  This from the second wealthiest (after Mrs DaGreek) and toughest landlords in the country.  I have just got an indication this may be the same, since trying to locate Exeter Cathedral on Google Earth got me about three screens full of commercial crap!