Coventry Cathedral
I have to be honest and say that Coventry is not one of the most exciting places in the world that you can ever visit! It was probably best known for manufacturing the first British motor car as well as being the car making capital of England until very recently. Maybe worldwide it’s better known for the fact that Lady Godiva rode through the City naked to persuade her husband to abolish the crippling taxes he’d levied on the Townsfolk.
What I like best about Coventry though are its amazing Cathedrals. My first visit there was about 20 years ago on a school trip when we were doing a project about the Second World War. Due to Coventry being successful as the major centre of car production this attracted the attention of the Luftwaffe and in November 1940 the City was almost obliterated. The Cathedral of St. Michaels burned along with the rest of the City after being hit by several incendiary devices. The Spire and outside walls are the only things that survived:
Coventry Cathedral
You know it’s funny but when I first visited with the school purposely to talk about the War, it never occurred to me how close to home it actually was. Maybe because I was 14 and too wrapped up in my own little world but when I was talking to my Grandma about writing this article she told me that she remembered the night Coventry was bombed. She lived in Leicester about 30 miles away and the planes flew over them on the way. She heard the bombs being released and felt the impact as they hit the ground and then exploded.
The morning after the destruction of the cathedral, a decision was taken to rebuild it. A competition was held to choose the architect and Basil Spence won from over 200 entries submitted. He made the bold decision to leave the ruins as they were in remembrance and to construct a brand new cathedral.
I don’t know much about architecture but I think it’s such an amazing building and was way ahead of its time! It has stained glass windows built into the side of the church to direct light in a certain way towards the Altar and tapestry:
St. Michael's Victory Over the Devil
The statue is of ‘St. Michael’s Victory over the Devil’ and was designed by Sir Jacob Epstein. It’s a bit like Marmite in my opinion in the fact that you either love it or hate it, although having said that I can never decided if I like it or not! I certainly think it’s a very powerful piece though!
The Cathedral is also home to the World’s largest tapestry called ‘Christ in Glory’ and was designed by Graham Sutherland. The new cathedral is made from Hollington Sandstone so the two buildings really complement each other.
Behind the font (which is made from a rough hewn stone from a hillside in Bethlehem) is my favourite part of the new Cathedral, the Baptistry window
Stained Glass
It’s the one thing that I always remembered from my first school trip all those years ago and is definitely worth a look if ever you are in the area.
The Cathedral also do a lot of work under the ‘peace & reconciliation’ banner that has grown from the ashes of the ruins to include missions and working with terrorists and dictators in the Middle East and Central Africa. It’s also not consecrated as a Church if England place of worship but is on a 999 year lease to a joint council. This means that church goers of any denomination can come here to pray which I think is pretty cool way to run a Cathedral!!!
I feel like I’ve missed lots of information out of my piece so if you do want to know more then please visit their website or come and see it in person to appreciate the fabulousness!!!
Visit Emma at her blog Adventures of an English Mum.
Thanks for this great post about Coventry. I’ve been living in Cov for the last year, and it is underrated! There are many gems here including the transport museum and the Herbert and the midieval St. Mary’s guildhall. Glad you enjoyed the cathedral!
Comment by Ellie — August 10, 2010 @ 3:53 pm
It was amazing Ellie and I didn’t actually notice the Transport Museum until we were leaving Town so may have to make a return trip!!! Glad to raise the profile a bit!!
Comment by Emma — August 10, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
Don’t think we Americans can fathom what WWII was like in Britain. The ruins are a haunting reminder of all that was lost.
I’ve not heard much about Coventry previously. Thank you for highlighting this area.
Comment by Miss Marla — August 10, 2010 @ 7:31 pm
They really are haunting but what’s really cool is that they’ve taken all that hatred and turned it into a centre for reconciliation. They have a symbol called the cross of nails which was discovered in the wreckage and have donated a replica to a church in Berlin.
Also a copy of the Stalingrad Madonna is in Berlin, Coventry & Volgograd as a sign of Countries that were once enemies and are now reconciled! (Apologies for epic comment
Comment by Emma — August 10, 2010 @ 9:39 pm
I love Coventry which I discoveredafter being stuck there for a day after being stood up on a blind date!!
I like the walk you can do around all the places of interest-you can get the info from the tourist information centre.
I personally love the shopping too!
Comment by Aunty Nelly — August 10, 2010 @ 11:07 pm
Nelly…do you not remember when we went there with school? Bizarrely Coventry reminds me of you and Jenny Southward…..not together!! Love you xx
Comment by Emma — August 10, 2010 @ 11:16 pm
Wonderful that they have used it as a sign of reconciliation. If only others could follow that example of forgiveness.
Comment by Miss Marla — August 11, 2010 @ 3:40 am
I RT’d it, but really, this was a great post. We got to spend one night in Coventry in school, and then we attended services there the next morning. It really brought home the effects of WWII for us, though, I really wish I’d been older to appreciate it more.
Comment by joy — August 11, 2010 @ 3:44 am
I agree that Cov isn’t the most obvious tourist spot, but my kids do love the Herbert Art Gallery, I amused two 11 year olds and two 6 year olds there for FIVE hours earlier this year!
Comment by Jen — August 11, 2010 @ 6:48 am
Thanks for the RT Joy. I’m so glad that I got to go back now that I’m older and do appreciate it. I love that they do so much work towards reconciliation!
Comment by Emma — August 11, 2010 @ 5:22 pm
It really isn’t and I’m sure a lot of Tourists pass by and miss out on a gem! May have to visit the Herbert Gallery on our next visit!!
Comment by Emma — August 11, 2010 @ 5:24 pm
I just stumbled on your blog, and was excited to see this post. My husband and I visited England on our honeymoon five years ago, and hope to return within the next 5! I’m always on the lookout for good English architecture – there’s so much of it! I would love to see those cathedral ruins up close and personal. So lovely!
I must tell you also that I do love your blog name….funny! Though bits and pieces of my family have been in the States for 300 plus years, I’m very proud of my British ancestry, and count myself to be an Anglophile.
Comment by Valerie — August 16, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
You should definitely add Coventry Cathedral to the list and I’m sure Melissa will be happy with the praise for her blog
Comment by Emma — August 16, 2010 @ 6:14 pm
If you want atmospheric ruins then I recommend Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire.
Comment by Bill P — August 22, 2010 @ 4:27 pm