Helping those who help themselves

摘要

The house of God is, traditionally, a place of refuge for all. But not York Minster: visitors to this magnificent Gothic cathedral must pay a £5.50 ($11) cover charge before they are allowed in to admire the intricate, 500-year-old stained glass of the rose window or the lovingly-carved arches that support the vaulted roof. There are frequent exhortations to give more money, a slick guidebook costing £5 and a gift-shop selling all manner of Minster-related knick-knacks.