I was walking around Lincoln Cathedral at night and was struck anew by the extraordinary richness and detail of the stonework. The intricacy is extraordinary.

I had not realised until I watched a programme about the life of Pugin how he spent many hours as a young man being inspired by the gothic beauty of this place. As I stood for a moment amazed by the buttresses flying up around the chapter house, I could not doubt that the soaring faith of the men who built this could not be in vain.