God's Own County

An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world, so he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to Rome.

On his first day in Rome he was inside a church, taking photographs, when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on a wall that read '$10,000 per call'. Intrigued, he asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for and the priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven where the caller could talk to God. The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was Moscow. In a large cathedral there he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign underneath it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone that he had seen in Rome and asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God. 'OK and thank you' said the American.

He then travelled to France, Israel, Germany and Brazil. In each country he found a church with the same golden telephone and the '$10,000 per call' sign below it.

Finally, the American came to the UK . When he visited York Minster there was the same golden telephone but this time the sign read '20p per call'. He was so surprised that he asked a priest about it. 'Reverend Sir' he said 'I have travelled all over the world and seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to heaven but everywhere else the call price has been $10,000. Why is it so cheap here ?' The priest smiled and replied 'Well, my friend, you are in Yorkshire now, it's a local call!'