York Minster

These gorgeous fellas were in the wonderful stonemason's yard at the east end of York Minster; everyone has gone home by the time I arrived, but during the day you can watch the work taking place. It's a fantastic idea. There's a fence around the yard, and at one point there's a large stone lions head pressed up against an open piece of fencing - when you peer into his gaping mouth you find a mobile phone set up to take contactless donations to the cathedrals artistic endeavours. Brilliant! 

After some slightly stressful struggles to find parking (York is very busy!) I managed to get to Evensong at the cathedral. What a joy. The visiting choir (from St Peter's Church in Streatham, not a place I know) was utterly superb and produced some of the clearest, most well-paced and beautiful psalm singing I've ever heard on a cathedral. The whole service, which was packed out, was a joy. 

It took me a long time to appreciate cathedral worship. It's very non-participatory, very passive for the congregation, and the music (although wonderfully done) isn't typically in a style that connects with me. I still wouldn't want to have it as my daily, bread and butter experience. But once in a while, to sit in these huge ancient buildings, to be surrounded by the prayer and let yourself be carried on it like a surfer on a wave, to be filled with the beauty of the offering, it can be quite amazing.

As prayer, it's a bit like a huge sugary iced cake. Looks magnificent. Tastes incredible. Wonderful on a special occasion. But I can only manage so much, and I have no idea how some people manage to live on it!

///fast.gravy.spider