New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
  2. UK Politics
5 October 2017

England’s cathedrals are having a beauty contest on Twitter and it’s getting a bit medieval

York Minster got shunted. 

By Julia Rampen

On 2 October 2017, it was World Architecture Day – a date designed to celebrate innovations the world over.

For some English cathedrals, though, it was the start of a clash of the cloisters.

After initially tweeting supportively about English cathedrals, St Paul’s Cathedral decided to follow this up by pointing out to rivals Winchester, Durham, Exeter, Derby, Ely, Lincoln, and St Albans that it was “Britain’s favourite building”. 

St Paul’s famously survived the Blitz, with images of its dome among the flames becoming some of the most distinctive of the war. 

However, Winchester hit back at London dominance with a picture of the new £10 note, featuring its exterior: “We reckon we’re the most widely circulated Cathedral in the country! #justsaying”. 

It also claimed it had “age and beauty”.

Durham showed off its Lego.

Ely boasted it was “one of the wonders of the medieval world”

Exeter, Norwich and Coventry competed over who had better moons. 

And everyone forgot about York Minster.

Content from our partners
How a digital approach to trade could empower economic growth
The UK’s skills shortfall is undermining growth
Unlocking investment in UK life sciences through manufacturing