Letter: Modern rites at Stonehenge

Sir: Reading the controversy over the religious value of Stonehenge (Letters, 28 June) brought to mind the observation that so much of religion lies in the mummification of the culturally obsolete.

Various ancient cultures incorporated or modified Stonehenge for their own obscure purposes: there is no reason why this should not continue. If this means ringing the stones with kiosks and car parks, so be it - this will be our culture's form of appropriation, the remains of which will no doubt equally intrigue the purviewers from future cultures.

In the meantime, just as the ancient pagans had their rites and rituals to perform there, so does our modern culture - one of which is called tourism! Quelle difference?

Yours sincerely,

Dominic Kirkham

Canons Regular of Premontre

Manchester

28 June