Coventry - Part 2: Cathedrals

Over the centuries Coventry has had three cathedrals. The first religious settlement was a convent founded by St Osburga in the 7th century in the valley of the River Sherborne. In 1043 Earl Leofric of Mercia and his religious wife Godiva (who we met in the last blog post) founded the Benedictine priory of St Mary's with a church. By the 12th century this had become the seat of the Bishopric of Coventry and Lichfield. The church was enlarged and became the first cathedral. The parish churches of St Michael and Holy Trinity both date from the 12th century. St Michael's was rebuilt in the 15th century in the Perpendicular style and St Mary's was closed at the Dissolution of the Monasteries and the seat of the Bishopric was moved to Lichfield.

In 1918 a new diocese of Coventry was established and St Michael's became the cathedral. During World War 2 St Michael's Cathedral was destroyed on the night of 14th November, 1940, in a massive bombing raid on the city when over 400 aircraft targeted Coventry as an industrial centre.

It was decided immediately to rebuild the Cathedral and it became a symbol of a determination for good to come out of evil and to offer forgiveness and reconciliation against the horrors of war. This remains the mission today.


The Gothic Tower and Spire of St Michael's survived the bombing but of the rest of the old cathedral only the outer wall remained.

Choir of Survivors Statue presented in 2012 as a gift from the people of Dresden.

Reconciliation

After the bombing Jock Forbes the Cathedral's stone mason and also a member of the fire fighting team made a charred cross from two charred beams that had supported the cathedral roof and placed it on an altar made from rubble on the site. Today's cross is a replica and has become a globally recognised symbol of renewal after destruction.

Effigy of H W Yeatman Biggs - the first post Reformation Bishop of Coventry 1918 - 1922.

Ecce Homo carved by Sir Jacob Epstein 1934/5 from a block of marble representing Christ before Pilate with His hands bound and wearing a crown of thorns.

West Screen of the new cathedral.

I read recently on Twitter that the Angel of Knives was on display for a short period at Coventry Cathedral and this was the main purpose of our visit. It took 4 years to make, is 27 feet tall and is comprised of 100,000 weapons recovered from UK streets. It was created by artist Alfie Bradley as commissioned and employed by the British Ironwork Centre, Shropshire. It is on a tour of the UK and this its first appearance in the Midlands and it will be at the Cathedral until the end of Easter.

The new cathedral was designed by Scottish architect Basil Spence who decided that the old ruined cathedral would be part of his proposal. It was finished within 6 years and the foundation stone laid by Queen Elizabeth II on 23rd March , 1956 and consecrated on 25th May, 1962.

On the top of the roof is a slender hollow spire of manganese bronze alloy with a sculpture of a winged cross on top by Geoffrey Clarke.

St Michael and the Devil sculpture symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The sculpture was by Sir Jacob Epstein.

Unfortunately when we entered the cathedral we were told we could only visit the first section as they were preparing for a service. (After the unusually locked church at Adderbury I don't seem to be having much luck with looking round religious places at the moment although past experience at Lichfield Cathedral has suggested that Sundays are not the best day to visit!) So the photos I took are limited.

The West Screen was impressive although not easy to get photos as the glass is clear. I wish I had tried to take more pictures now. It was conceived as a link between the old and the new and there are 8 rows of alternating saints and angels through which you can see the ruins of the old cathedral. It was designed by New Zealand born glass engraver John Hutton.

The stone for the font came from Bethlehem and sculptor Ralph Beyer carved a recess in the top to hold water.

As we couldn't go far into the cathedral I had to zoom in for the next two photos. The first is a tapestry designed by artist Graham Sutherland and it is located behind the altar. It is 22 metres tall and 12 metres wide and represents Christ in Glory.

Cross of Nails made from nails found in the ruins of the old cathedral.

The Baptistery window is huge and impressive and totally different to anything I have seen before. It is comprised of bright primary colours in a stonework of straight lines and sharp angles reflecting the use of the modern frame and carborundum saws. It was designed by John Piper. The blaze of light from the many windows represents the Holy Spirit. The top of the window is blue with some yellow and red suggesting stars and comets. The central area is a blaze of white and yellow surrounded by darker colours and below are greens, greys and browns.

Timothy enjoying Coventry and glad of his scarf - it was cold!!!!

Another view of the Flying Cross

Timothy again and

a very tame feral pigeon.

Interesting, moving and beautiful as the new cathedral seemed to be from such a limited viewing I have to admit to preferring the older cathedrals as it is the centuries of history, architecture, tombs and old stained glass that occurs in them that really appeals to me. I would like to go back to Coventry though one day to see the whole of the new Cathedral and also visit Holy Trinity to see the Doom Painting and perhaps a visit to St John the Baptist.


All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera

(Yet again I can't find the camera card from D's Canon!)


Reference: Guide Book to Coventry Cathedral