I was surprised to see the flag of St George flying at half-mast over Hereford Cathedral on Wednesday, for Lady Thatcher's funeral.

The Cathedral has made a political statement in doing this, for a woman who was not the head of state. Did the Cathedral authorities fly a half-mast flag for the Labour Prime Ministers Harold Wilson or Jim Callaghan? I think not.

For decades for the Church of England struggled to throw off the tag that it is the Tory Party at prayer. Recently, it seemed to have succeeded. But now a serious blip. Hereford Cathedral has put the clock back.

Jeremy Bugler Blakemere, Hereford