On Friday I had the pleasure of showing Rod Dreher, Dallas Morning News columnist and Crunchy Conservative blogger, the delights of Salisbury.
Our time together focused on a tour of the Cathedral and more than 300 steps above the ground I took the photo of the beautiful Close that you can see on the right.
Our tour guide was excellent in all but one respect. She knew the history of Salisbury. She told us everything about the stone used in the Cathedral's construction. She was instructive about the art, about the candle for Amnesty International and told us proudly that Salisbury was the first Cathedral to have a girls' choir.
I wouldn't expect a sermon from a tour guide - it would be counterproductive - but I wish there had been some attempt to communicate a little of the Christian message. With so much ignorance of the Christian story these visits provide an opportunity for the Church of England to say a little of what motivated previous generations to build such magnificent monuments to God. But nothing. Not even a gentle invitation at the end of the tour to take a leaflet about Jesus and his message. The Cathedral Shop sells a Karl Marx greetings card, recipe books, medieval costumes for kids and - if you look hard enough - a few books by C S Lewis.
Where is the Church's passion to share the good news?
Tim Montgomerie
Update: Cranmer and Crunchy Con have both commented on this piece.
