Hereford Cathedral

I came down to Hereford yesterday morning to inspect its great cathedral. Slowly I tick off our national stock of episcopal seats, and Hereford’s was worth the tick. Although not the tallest or largest of churches, it contains a wealth of historical material including an unusually high number of surviving tombs of bishops and knights. I am also grateful that Hereford’s Dean and Chapter have resisted the urge to charge visitors like many of their more rapacious brethren elsewhere. I made a point of patronising the bookshop instead and paying some extra to see the chained library. 

Theologically, however, the cathedral seems to suffer from a serious degree of confusion and decline. A little chapel -the Stanbury- was set aside to enable visitors and worshippers to ‘pray for our departed loved ones’. I have contacted the Dean of Hereford to ask her why she is promulgating belief in purgatory (there is hardly much point in praying for departed souls already in heaven or hell) which the Church of England rejected at the Reformation, and why she gives this false hope to grieving families. I expect little in response, but the point will have been made.

The other step backwards is the rather garishly restored tomb and shrine of Bishop Thomas Cantilupe. Downgraded at the Reformation, it has now been reupholstered complete with cushions all about it so the faithful can pray by his bones. This ‘inveterate enemy of the Jews’ was made a saint in 1320, with the evidence of his antisemitism being used to support -and clinch- the heavenly promotion, rather than used to challenge it. Now once again, people can come and ‘pray’ to this old papist because they would rather not talk to God the Father through Jesus the Son. What a shame that Hereford Cathedral has returned to its dark, medieval past, like a sow wallowing in the mud and a dog returned to its vomit.

Hereford Cathedral is a grand old building and a worthy recipient of anyone’s attention. Yet it contains reminders aplenty that denominations, hierarchies, individuals and even buildings can return to darkness. Be warned, therefore.