The cathedral of Chutreaux is imaginary, but the methods of its construction correspond closely to the actual construction of a Gothic cathedral. The story of its almost uninterrupted construction, however, represents a somewhat ideal situation. For owing to either financial or structural problems or both, the completion of many such undertakings was delayed for as long as two hundred years. (p. 4)

In the thirteen century God was good to the people of France and especially to the people of Chutreaux. They had no wars to fight and the plague was gone. The weather was good for the farmers so there was plenty of food to eat, and business was good for the city's merchants. For these blessings and to help insure that He would continue to favor them, the city of Chutreaux wished to thank God. The people began to dream of building Him a new cathedral. (p...