I sometimes find it a shame...

[arewethereyet]

When this was built, the population of the town was 1,000.  It was built to hold 1,000 people.  Of course, there were surrounding farms not counted in the population.  This is where the tithing went.  It's a beautiful structure and the art inside is amazing.  But...it was built so that that if the pope was ever in the area he would go to that church.  Well, he was in the area a few times but didn't bother to stop in.  Still the church asks for more money. It costs a lot to maintain this, the rectory, and the convent.