Good morning, Worcester Opticians. Amelia speaking, how may I help? An appointment? Of course, sir, which day would you prefer? Unfortunately, I can’t do Tuesday, would Wednesday be okay? I have one available at eleven.

The twenty-first-century church has always been a mystery to me. In a world where so many other phenomena – such as melting poles and heavily polluted areas with millions of people living in them – pose real threats to mankind, there is still a group of people who insist on turning to religion for answers.

Around 70 kilometres from Prague sits Kutna Hora. From the 13th to 16th centuries this meeting point was an energetic city that profited from the local silver mining trade and its position in Central Bohemia. Today, the 20,000 permanent residents of Kutna Hora are outnumbered by the 200,000 tourists who arrive yearly to the suburbs of this Gothic city in order to visit the Sedlec Ossuary.