Call Charges

A man in Manchester, decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to Leeds, and started working south from there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign which read "£10,000 a minute." Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to God. The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way.

As he continued to visit churches in Wigan, Birmingham, Bristol and Canterbury, and all around England, he found more phones, with the same sign, and got the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Derbyshire. Upon entering a church in this North central area of Derbyshire, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read "Calls: 25 pence." Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor;

"I have been in churches all across the country and in each church, I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but, in the other churches the cost was £10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 25 pence a call. Why?"

The pastor, smiling, replied;

"Son, you're in Derbyshire now - This is God's country...so it's a local call."