A NEWS item (“Vandals and thieves target cathedral”, The Press, October 22) suggests that Howden Minster has been elevated to the status of a cathedral. I do hope that the Archbishop of York has been informed, as Howden Minster is actually a parish church in the Diocese of York.

As far as I am aware, only two Church of England cathedrals are referred to as minsters –York and Southwell – although the new-fangled idea of giving any large church the designation ‘Minster’ (eg Dewsbury Minster and Doncaster Minster) could be seen as confusing. However, Howden Minster’s title goes back to mediaeval times when it was a collegiate church – a proper Minster!

Dr John Ridgeway-Wood, Darnborough Street, York.