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During my recent visit to England, I visited the Cathedral and pondered a resolution passed on July 8th, 1401 which read "let us build so great a church to the glory of God that those who come after us will think us mad even to have attempted it." This might be true of almost any cathedral. I tried to imagine the vision of the Master Builder who planned it and the skill of the workmen who built and decorated it. After 670 years of use and weathering, extensive exceptional and essential conservation work is required on the spire, tower and west front of the cathedral. This is in addition to routine maintenance and the total cost is estimated to be 6.5 million (pounds sterling) or about 13 million Canadian dollars. The tower and spire weigh 6,400 tons and the columns supporting them have bent and must be stiffened. The urgent restoration needed does not qualify for any government grant. Not surprisingly, there is a worldwide appeal for funds, headed by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, and wonderful work is being done by many people both nationally and internationally to raise the millions of dollars needed. Work has been in progress for some time, and the erection of the huge amount of scaffolding needed must have been a tremendous undertaking before any real work could be started. I came away full of wonder and admiration for all the caring and craftsmen's skills being devoted to preserving "one of the glories of England", to use author Rutherfurd's words, which is not only a public monument, but was built for a religious purpose which it still serves. One of the treasures which it contains is one of the four surviving original texts of Magna Carta, the famous agreement made between King John and the barons at Runnymede in 1215. It is beautifully written in Latin on vellum and contains some 3,500 words, many of them abbreviated. Two of the originals are in the British Museum and one is at Lincoln Cathedral. The basic principles of Magna Carta have been incorporated into the Constitution of the United States of America and several Commonwealth countries, including Canada (I hope they're still there!). Like all such revered and much-visited "shrines", it has a very active and dedicated Association of Friends of the Cathedral, who serve in so many ways helping the Dean and Chapter, "by prayer and giving, to preserve and maintain the worship, traditions, music, furnishings and fabric of the Cathedral. Needless to say, guide books, postcards, gifts and refreshments are available from the voluntary helpers in the shop and refectory. (I studied the shop with much interest!) I came away with a piece of the spire in my hand (a paperweight cut from the stone removed from the spire during the renovation work) in return for a $10.00 donation to the appeal. I also purchased a print of Magna Carta (the English translation from the original Latin). As William Blake says: To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour I have run out of space for this month - more next month about Winchester Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Historic Ships, Steam Trains and the National Motor Museum. Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 26th at 7:00 p.m. Tony Scammell Editor