An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world.
So he bought a train ticket and took a trip to Swansea, thinking that he would start by working his way across Britain. On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read "£10,000 per call".
The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 you could talk to God. The American thanked the priest and went along his way.
Next stop was in Worcester. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Swansea and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line aven .and that for £10,000 he could talk to God. "O.K., thank you," said the American.
He then travelled to Salisbury, Leeds, Carlisle and Newcastle. In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same "£10,000 per call" sign under it.
The American, upon leaving Newcastle decided to travel to Devon to see if they had the same telephone. He arrived in Plymouth, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read "40p per call."
The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.
"Father, I've travelled all over Britain and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, everywhere else the price was £10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?"
The priest smiled and answered, "You're in God's Country now son - it's a local call".
