THE MAJESTY of England’s cathedrals and the country’s network of historic rail routes have been brought together in a newly-published book, written by a retired Ryedale Army officer.

England’s Cathedrals by Train is the culmination of four years of research and travelling by Murray Naylor, of Huttons Ambo, near Malton, and which has been enhanced by a foreword penned by the former Archbishop of York, Lord Hope.

The 250-page book features stories behind 33 of England’s 43 cathedrals, and journeying between them on rail routes dating back about 150 years.

Mr Naylor, who spent 36 years in the Army, said: “I have had a lifelong interest in railways, and more recently in English cathedrals.”

In his research he has found that while some were built as cathedrals – such as York, Salisbury and Lincoln – others were previously medieval churches or monastries which achieved the status.

“Railways have always been an indulgence for me,” said Mr Murray, who in his retirement, has become a guide in York Minster, relating its history to tourists from around the world.

“Being a guide at York has given me a feel for all these wonderful buildings nationwide.

“My aim in visiting each of the cathedrals and delving into their history, has enabled me to find in each of them, aspects of their history which visitors may miss,” said Mr Naylor, who is a former member and deputy leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

“Not everyone will either have the time nor the wish to visit all the cathedrals described in the book, so I have constructed an itinary that covers some of the best-known ones in England, which, if visited in the planned route, would take the traveller by train, just over a week. I have not included the cathedrals in London — my aim was to focus on those in the provinces,” he said.

Mr Naylor believes that England’s cathedrals have brought themselves into the 21st century, with more people than ever visiting them. “It is a great tribute to them that they are facing up to the problems of maintaining themselves in the face of the amount of public money being available.”

He cites the £20m work under way at York Minster as an example, where the Heritage Lottery Fund has contributed half, and the public augmenting it.

In addition to York Minster, others cathedrals featured in the book include Carlisle, Ripon, and landmarks such as Fountains Abbey, while the railway journeys include the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the Settle-Carlisle.

In his foreword, Lord Hope says: “Reading through it, brought back some happy memories of train-spotting on Doncaster Station in my younger days. The reader is taken the length and breadth of the country wirh descriptions of the cathedrals.”

• England’s Cathedrals by Train, published by Pen and Sword, Barnsley, is available from Mr Naylor at Minster House, Huttons Ambo, near Malton, at £25.