Hawarth Old Hall

Australian relatives and I called at the Yorkshire village of Hawarth last month. They were suitably impressed by its cobbled streets and old fashioned shops. At the top of its great hill sits the parish church, where, one hopes, good spiritual food may be obtained. At the bottom of the hill, we dined at the Old Hall, a public house dating back to 1621. Here, we hoped to obtain good quality physical food; we had, after all, to walk back up that steep hill.

Fifty years ago, churches began to struggle and close, but the pubs boomed. Now, the pubs are also struggling, as taxes, energy costs and competition bite harder. This leaves me in the unusual position, as a dissenting minister, of regretting the closure of good public houses. Although we can live our brief lives without either church or pub, they are both useful institutions which cater for our differing, but complimentary needs. Do not neglect your soul by starving it, and do not harm your body by neglecting it or filling it with junk. Eat well and feed well, looking after both spirit and flesh.