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Douglas B. Kell asks why Laurie Taylor designated Poppleton a city when it does not have a cathedral (Letters, July 29). The requirement that a town have an (Anglican) cathedral before being considered for city status was abandoned in 1889.

Today, several towns with cathedrals are not cities (Blackburn, Chelmsford, Southwell) while not all cities have cathedrals (Nottingham, Southampton, Sunderland). What is surprising is that many people still believe that a city must have a cathedral.

Taylor's proposal (July 22) that Poppleton University should seek to have the largest church in the "city" upgraded to a cathedral, to help promote the university, was perhaps closer to the mark than he intended!

John Beckett, Nottingham