His Middle Name was "The"

"There's big Festival in town, so be sure to make dinner reservations someplace for this evening!" said our hotel manager.

So we go down the street for lunch and we comment to the waiter that "this must be an exciting time for the town, what with the Festival and all!"

"What Festival? I have't heard of any festival!" said the waiter.

We got on the train bound for Edenborough. Apparently every Scotsman and Scotswoman had the same idea.

I had ridden the train the other day and never made a reservation and just hopped on in London, found a seat and road to Canterbury and back the next day. So it never occurred to me that reservations were needed. We road the first hour in the standing room at the end of the car and then when we changed trains for a second train we asked about reservations. "You can only make them up to the night before your trip." 

That was information I could have used a 24 hours before.

So, now we have the system worked out. At least until the next complication is tossed at us. But, I will hand it to the British, they are ever so polite with the most devestating news.

Lincoln Cathedral

Does that look like a good reason to come to this rather delightful English town? This church was built around 1000 to 1100 and then then they added this part and that part and then one tower collapsed and years later the roof burned to the ground and then another portion was ruined by an earthquake and then another spire was sheared off in a storm.

But they stayed with it and for good reason. Even when this was built a thousand years ago, this village and a thousand years of recorded history before that! My daughter commented, 

"Why would you put this grand cathedral in the middle of nowhere?"

And the reason is that 2000 years ago the Romans had an outpost here. You can even see portions of some 2000 year old walls in the parks (and inside one of the retail stores!) I don't suppose London was such a force 2000 years ago and then a thousand years later around the years of 1000 AD William the Conqueror, living up to his name (or perhaps he bestowed it on himself) decided that he had a castle here and now he would build a grand cathedral here to show that God was here also.

 After his Conquering Program, William went about a Cathedral building program. He seems to have succeded and the results are more than spectacular. It took a huge workforce and skilled laborers who worked from sunrise to sunset and I dont imagine that there was too much labor strife when your boss is known as "William the Conqueror." It is estimated that about 8 million dollars per year was spent on it. Once again, I would suppose the fund raising was a bit easier when the Fund Raising Chairman is named "William the Conqueror."

The grandeur of this place is beyond belief and considering that it was made so long ago and at such a great price in human skill, lives and money, boggles the mind. And people can walk all around this town and be immersed in ancient ruins and the evidence of grand structures which have lasted. But, alas, this place is in need of lots of and constant repair. Indeed, they have scaffolding up all over the place for restoration, but it seems to me that the needs for repair may overwhelm the ability of a town and church to keep up with that repair.

It had some wonderful touches which I rather liked,

This modern statue in one chapel.

The restoration of the grand Bishops window (to the tune of five million pouds or dollars, no matter, one window is going to be really expensive to repair.) Here is but one of the stained glass circles in this massive complex window.

Adam digging and Eve spinning. Not sure of the significance of that, unless it points out the roles of men and women. I used a telephoto lense to get this shot way, way up in the far reaches of the church. And speaking of the far reaches of the church, here is a picture of the famous (they keep telling me its famous) Lincoln Imp.

He's perched up in the superstructure of the cathedral and for some reason the achritects added a bit of whimsy to it all...though once again, if my construction boss had a last name of "The Conqueror" I don't know if I would point out the whimsy which was carved in the upper reaces of the cathedral. I noted that some fellow was walking the grounds wearing a football (soccer) jersey, or was it rugby?.....anyway the team name was the Lincoln Imps.

Give and "I" give me an "M" give me a "P" and "S"!! Go Imps!!!!

Before we leave town, I am going back to see the place again. It is a wonderful structure with overtones of sadness for its massive deterioration. But, the town will continue to scrample to maintain its upkeep. There is a great spirit here and I suppose that is the same Spirit which has brought Christians through the darkest of times.

I lit a candle for Lincoln Cathedral and for you.

Peace, Bob