John L Hyde-Smith (Letters, June 21) rightly points out a lack of understanding about cathedrals.

Unfortunately, there is a misunderstanding of the word "city" because it has two meanings.

The first meaning concerns ecclesiastical definitions, which is the one John L Hyde-Smith uses correctly. The second meaning is connected with a geographical description of the size and importance of a settlement.

City is one of the levels between town and metropolis, showing a degree of centrality or importance above a normal town.

Brighton and Hove has that degree of centrality above other towns of the same size, therefore it is a city in a geographical, not ecclesiastical, sense.

On the other hand, I like St Peter's Church and I would want it to become more important and to be repaired.

-Paulette Cowley, Hove