Barbara Cartland

The need for Mammon Sir: Douglas Murray is right to wince at Sadiq Khan’s gloating over the partnership at St Paul’s with the nightclub Fabric (‘Would Sadiq Khan back a rave in a mosque?’, 12 September). But the decision to host club nights is simply about cash. Since the government scrapped the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, historic churches now face an extra 20 per cent VAT bill on all maintenance. The National Churches Survey reveals that 39 per cent of them have roofs at risk or in urgent need of repair. Cathedrals cannot fund seven-figure restoration projects through the Sunday collections alone. Cathedrals have always had multiple uses.

A few weeks ago, an Irish Times columnist, Fintan O’Toole, wrote about receiving a copy of a 1930s book of etiquette issued by the Christian Brothers – a religious teaching order once notorious for the liberal use of the strap – called Christian Politeness and Counsels for Youth. He had fun mocking the strictures intended for the benefit of working-class Catholic boys. Indeed, he added his own: ‘Boys subject to physical or sexual abuse by Christian Brothers should remain silent on the subject and avoid at all costs giving scandal.’ Ha ha.