An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world. For his first chapter he decided to write about famous English and Scottish cathedrals. So he bought a plane ticket and made the trip to London, thinking that he would work his way northwards. 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 Salisbury. 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 London and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 he could talk to God. "O.K., thank you", said the American.
He then travelled to Bath, Nottingham, Coventry and Manchester and in every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same "£10,000 per call" sign under it.
With his first chapter going well, he left England and traveled north to Scotland, and again at his first stop at St.Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read "10p per call."
The American was surprised so he asked the minister about the sign.
"Vicar, I've travelled all over England, and I've seen this same golden telephone in many cathedrals and churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to heaven, but in all the cities in England the price was £10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?" The minister smiled and answered,
"You're in Scotland now my son......... it's a Local call".
