Mr_Andrew_Martin: Coventry Cathedral

I recently paid a visit to Coventry Cathedral, which was famously rebuilt after being destroyed by a Nazi air raid in World War Two.

The Cathedral was originally founded by Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his wife Godiva in the 11^th century and then rebuilt in the 14^th century. The 90 metre (295 feet) high tower and spire was the third tallest in England and the size of the church indicated the wealth that Coventry enjoyed in the Middle Ages as the country’s fourth largest city after London, Bristol and York. The Cathedral contributed to a beautiful skyline that was dominated by the three church spires of the Cathedral, Holy Trinity and Greyfriars.

However, on the night of the 14^th November 1940, the city was attacked and destroyed by the Nazis. A large part of the city centre was devastated and over 500 people lost their lives. The lovely old Cathedral was left in ruins with only the tower and spire still standing. Out of all the British cities that were bombed in the Second World War, only Coventry lost its Cathedral.

On the morning after the attack it was resolved to rebuild the Cathedral not as an act of defiance but as a sign of faith, trust and hope in the future of the world. When the ruins were photographed from the top of the tower it was seen that two timbers from the damaged roof had fallen in the shape of a cross.

Construction on the new Cathedral didn’t begin until ten years after the end of the war. The new one was designed by Sir Basil Spence (1907 – 1976) and the foundation stone was laid by Queen Elizabeth II on 23^rd March 1956. The immense project captured the imagination of the world and gifts arrived from Germany, Canada, Sweden and many other countries. On 25^th May 1962, the Queen returned to Coventry to attend its consecration.

The new Cathedral is considered a remarkable piece of craftsmanship and is filled with many beautiful works of art. The most famous is Sir Jacob Epstein’s “Saint Michael and the Devil”, a six metre high bronze sculpture hanging near to the entrance. Behind the altar is the world’s largest tapestry, Graham Sutherland’s “Christ in Glory”. The Cathedral’s windows are angled so that sunlight is thrown on to the tapestry. The 22 metre high baptistery window, designed by John Piper, contains 195 panels of glass and is considered one of the most beautiful in England. The font is 3-ton boulder from Bethlehem that has been shaped into a scallop-shaped bowl by Ralph Beyer. The lattice spire was lowered into place by helicopter, which was unusual at the time.

A cross of nails was made out of three nails from the fallen roof truss of the old cathedral. It was placed on the altar of the new cathedral and has become a symbol of peace and reconciliation across the world. There are now 160 crosses across the world, all made from the original nails. One of the these crosses is kept in the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, which was similarly destroyed in an air raid and is kept as a ruin next to a newer church. A cross is also kept on all board all ships bearing the name HMS Coventry. The cross was on board when HMS Coventry was sunk by Argentine air attack in the Falklands War in 1982 and it went down with the ship. It was subsequently recovered by divers from the Royal Navy and presented to the Cathedral.

However, the most remarkable thing about the new Cathedral is that it has been built next to the ruins of the old. Indeed the ruins are incorporated into it so that the two parts form a single whole. The ruins can be clearly seen through the 22 metre high West Screen which was specially designed to unite the two.

A visit to the Cathedral commences in the old ruins where one notices that a replica of the cross formed from the two fallen timbers that now stands behind the old altar. The words “FATHER FORGIVE” have been carved into them. The original charred cross is now kept inside the new part of the Cathedral. There is also a statue by Joselina de Vasconcellos showing two human figures in an embrace. It is called “Reconciliation” and was designed by the artist when she was 90. The statue was donated to the Cathedral by Sir Richard Branson. A cast of the statue has been presented on behalf of the people of Coventry to the Peace Garden in Hiroshima, Japan.

One then walks from the ruins to the new Cathedral, which has been built at right-angles to the old church. The experience is compared to walking from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, from death to life.

The Cathedral has achieved its purpose of restoring hope to the future and reconciliation between Britain and Germany. However, there is still a role for it to play in bringing reconciliation between the different races, religions and classes of the world, as well raising concern for the environment. The large numbers of international visitors, who take away a happy memory, are playing a part in this.

Please see below for the photographs of my visit.

1. The view of the old Cathedral from the top of its 15th century tower (above).

2. The altar of the old Cathedral showing the replica wooden cross (above).

3. Close-up of the altar showing the words "Father Forgive" inscribed into the wall behind it (above).

4. The memorial of Huyshe Wolcott Yeatman, the first Bishop of Coventry (above) lies in the ruins of the old Cathedral.

5. The memorial includes a swastika. However, it predates the Nazis and at that time stood for good luck (above).

6. Fortunately the beautiful 15th century tower survived the bombing (above).

7. A view of the new Cathedral from the tower of the old (above). The lattice spire was lowered into place by a helicopter.

8. The view of Holy Trinity church from the top of the tower (above).

9. A statue entitled "Reconciliation" stands in the ruins of the old cathedral (above).

10. The old and new parts of the Cathedral stand together where they form a united whole (above). As one moves from the old to the new it is like moving from Good Friday to easter Sunday, death to life, war to peace.