Humor Question from Yes, Prime Minister

[Butler425]

Hi, I know this doesn't pertain to Blackadder, but I'm stymied by a joke from
the episode "The Bishop's Gambit" and I don't know where else to turn.
Apparently there is some aspect of the joke not widely known in the U.S.
The dialogue is between Sir Humphry(SH), a civil servant, and a church official
(CO)
:
CO: We'd rather give him (a person vying for a bishopric) Truro.
SH: Why?
CO:How shall I put it, it is...remote. It is to the Church what the vehicle
licensing center in Swanzie is to the Civil Service.
::Laughter::
SH: Long time no see.
::Massive Groans and Laughter::

This is driving me nuts! Would someone please explain to a humble colonist what
the heck this means?
Thanks
Jim

[Richard Paine]

The 'see' referred to is the religious version; i.e. he'll be there a long
time and he won't get his own see (or religious area of responsibility) from
it. Doesn't sound so funny when I try to explain it!

[Butler425]

Yes, it does indeed lose a little somthing!
Well, thanks for explaining it!
Jim

[Richard Vine]

Butler425 writes:
>
>The dialogue is between Sir Humphry(SH), a civil servant, and a church official
>(CO)
>:
>CO: We'd rather give him (a person vying for a bishopric) Truro.
>SH: Why?
>CO:How shall I put it, it is...remote. It is to the Church what the vehicle
>licensing center in Swanzie is to the Civil Service.
>::Laughter::
>SH: Long time no see.
>::Massive Groans and Laughter::

I refer the honourable gentleman to the dictionary, where amongst the other
definitions he will find:

SEE (noun) 1 the area under the authority of a bishop or archbishob, a diocese
(the see of Norwich).
2 the office or jurisdiction of a bishop or archbishop (fill a vacant see)

The groans are therefore the result of a pun (the humerous use of a word to
suggest different meanings, or of words of the same sound and different
meanings).

And, incidentally, it is Swansea not Swanzie.

Hope this helps.

/Richard V.