Manchester Cathedral is not as old as Ely or Durham, nor in such a spectacular setting as York or Salisbury but it is beautiful, loved and ours.
There are no religious sensibilities at play in my sense of outrage that Sony have used images of the fifteenth century cathedral in their latest zap the alien computer game but I have visited the building several times to admire the architectural features and the ornate wood carvings in the interior. Like all Cathedrals it is more than just religious memorabilia, it is a work of art containing many subsidiary works of art.
People have many reasons for using Cathedrals of course, to pray or take part in communal worship, to soak up that atmosphere of peace and calm generated within (its a trick of light and proportion, you’re not really in the presence of a higher being – sorry folks,) to admire the architecture and craftsmanship, to grab a bit of quiet solitude. Such buildings are expensive to keep up and most people who go in are happy to contribute what they can afford either by dropping a few coins in the box or buying an overpriced souvenir guide. After all we are preserving part of our history.
I am not saying the image of the buildings interior should not be used, what gets up my nose is the sheer bad manners. Sony should have offered a royalty or flat payment at least but what really grates with me is that they did not even ask permission.
Can you imagine the reaction if anybody used in a profit making venture an image belonging to Sony without making a deal to cut them a share of the revenue?
Big Business should be taught this lesson: SAME RULES APPLY.