Faced with a constant race to raise restoration funds, the wardens of York Minster usually can’t afford to let the grass grow under their feet.
On this occasion, however, they have positively encouraged it.
This striking scene was created yesterday when the medieval cathedral’s nave was carpeted with 16,000 square feet of special turf ready for a fundraising dinner for 900 guests.
Re: Greening God
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:10 pm
by dgs49
Seems pretty extravigant, eh?
When the Houston Astrodome first opened, they believed that natural grass would grow on the field because the roof of the dome contained hundreds of skylights that made it bright as day inside. Of course they would have to water it.
Unfortunately, the skylights made it impossible to play baseball in the dome, as fielders went temporarily blind trying to track fly balls hit during the games. So they painted over the skylights.
Bye bye grass.
Hence, the birth of "Astroturf"!
Re: Greening God
Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:07 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
Well it's not as if other things aren't carted into church to die
Re: Greening God
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:11 am
by rubato
It was all just a misunderstanding.
A little heated discussion about upkeep of the local rockpile (cathedral) and the bishop says "Well just sod it! Sod it all."
And there you are.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Greening God
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:12 am
by Gob
MajGenl.Meade wrote:Well it's not as if other things aren't carted into church to die
Like religion?
Re: Greening God
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:14 am
by rubato
A former student of great energy and ingenuity had a theme party at his house where they placed sod everywhere in the 1st floor (terre a pied for you European mongrels) as carpeting. The ingenious part was that he already re-sold the sod to someone else who he helped install it for a day later.
I'd tell you about his 'beach' theme party but you'd be biting your silk duvets in envy if I did.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Greening God
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:18 am
by Gob
We once turfed a guys halls of residence room, when we were students. We threw a couple of sheep in for good measure too.
Re: Greening God
Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:49 am
by MajGenl.Meade
rubato wrote:It was all just a misunderstanding.
A little heated discussion about upkeep of the local rockpile (cathedral) and the bishop says "Well just sod it! Sod it all."
And there you are.
yrs,
rubato
Must be a Roman church then???
Re: Greening God
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:25 am
by rubato
A very pretty cathedral, by the way. We went through a few in Frogtown and this one is VERY nice. The "Notre Dame" in Rouen might be as good but the one in Paris was really a depressing dark pile of rocks insides, and filled with souvenir stands and "little sisters of the poor" hustling for change (and they really are little! I didn't see one over 5ft or 85 lbs!)
Quite the tribute to what you can do if you scare the piss out of ignorant peasants for 200 years.
Fear, it's the great motivator.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Greening God
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:33 am
by Gob
It's not one of my favourites, Exeter, Sailsbury, and of course Winchester are much nicer.
Re: Greening God
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:05 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
All magnificent in their unique ways. But I enjoyed Ely most of all. Not sure why - perhaps it was the history and the setting - the lack of tourists (!)
Re: Greening God
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:44 pm
by loCAtek
Gob wrote:We once turfed a guys halls of residence room, when we were students. We threw a couple of sheep in for good measure too.
Oh, it was that kind of party!
MajGenl.Meade wrote:
rubato wrote:It was all just a misunderstanding.
A little heated discussion about upkeep of the local rockpile (cathedral) and the bishop says "Well just sod it! Sod it all."
And there you are.
yrs,
rubato
Must be a Roman church then???
Rather;
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.
