St George's Church, York

St George's Roman Catholic Church, York, was not open to the public when I called, which is unusual for a Romanist building, seeing as its congregants are encouraged to come mid-week to genuflect and pray before the statues. Not far opposite lies the reputed grave of eighteenth-century highwayman, Dick Turpin. Considering the role of the Roman Church in fleecing the flock until the Henry Tudor and his younger children limited its power, a daylight-robber seems an appropriate denizen for St George’s shadow.

The only other distinguishing feature I could espy from without was the carved head of a king, set by the main door. Although I found it rather charming, and its naïve style may bespeak a greater age than the surrounding building, it is somewhat misshapen or designed to be a parody of a real human form, the mason’s equivalent of a cartoon character. This, too, reminded me of Rome’s Christianity; Jesus Christ is recognisable, but His gospel is contorted, warped and misrepresented. Whoever this fellow is, he suits well his position.

A  D