Coventry Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coventry Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Saint Michael
Old (left) and new (right) cathedral buildings
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Location	Coventry city centre, West Midlands
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	St Michael
Consecrated	25 May 1962
Architecture
Previous cathedrals	2
Architect(s)	Basil Spence
Style	Regional modern
Years built	1956–1962
Administration
Diocese	Coventry (since 1918)
Province	Canterbury

The Cathedral Church of Saint Michael, often called Coventry Cathedral, is a famous church in Coventry, England. It's the main church for the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry within the Church of England. The current bishop is Ruth Worsley, and the dean is John Witcombe.

Coventry has actually had three different cathedrals over time. The first was St Mary's, a monastic building, which existed from 1102 to 1539. Only a few ruins of it remain today. The second was St Michael's, a beautiful 14th-century Gothic church. It became a cathedral in 1918 but was badly damaged during the bombing in the Second World War. Its tower and spire, which stand 284 feet (87 metres) tall, are still standing as a reminder. The third and current cathedral, also called St Michael's, was opened in 1962. It was built right next to the ruins of the old one. This new cathedral is a powerful symbol of how war can destroy, but also how people can find peace and reconciliation afterwards.

Coventry's First Cathedral: St Mary's Priory

Coventry's first cathedral was a medieval church called St Mary's Priory and Cathedral. It was originally a small Benedictine monastery founded in 1043 by Leofric, Earl of Mercia and his wife Godiva.

In 1095, the bishop's main church was moved to Coventry, and the monastery became a cathedral. By the mid-1200s, it was a large building, about 142 yards long, with many other buildings around it. Sadly, this cathedral was the only one in England to be completely destroyed during King Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.

St Michael's Cathedral: A Story of Two Buildings

The Old Cathedral: A Symbol of Resilience

The old cathedral, painted in 1802 by William Crotch

The inside of the old cathedral, around 1880

The roofless ruins of the old cathedral today

St Michael's Church was built mostly between the late 1300s and early 1400s using red sandstone. It was one of the biggest parish churches in England. In 1918, it became a cathedral when the Diocese of Coventry was created.

However, this beautiful cathedral was almost completely destroyed during the Coventry Blitz on November 14, 1940, when German planes bombed the city. Only the tower, spire, some outer walls, and the bronze statue and tomb of its first bishop, Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs, survived.

The ruins of this old cathedral are still considered sacred ground and are protected as a Grade I listed building. After the bombing, the church leader, Provost Richard Howard, had the words "Father Forgive" carved on the wall behind the altar. The spire of the old cathedral is 284 feet (87 metres) tall, making it the tallest structure in Coventry and the third tallest cathedral spire in England.

The New Cathedral: A Modern Masterpiece

The current St Michael's Cathedral was built right next to the ruins of the old one. It was designed by Basil Spence and Arup and built by John Laing. It is also a Grade I listed building.

Basil Spence won a competition in 1950 to design the new cathedral. He believed the old cathedral should remain as ruins, like a garden of remembrance, and the new one should be built beside it. This way, both buildings would together form one church. They used Hollington sandstone for the new building, which helps it blend with the old ruins.

Queen Elizabeth II laid the first stone of the new cathedral on March 23, 1956. The unusual, tall spire, called a flèche, is 80 feet (24 metres) high. It was carefully lowered onto the roof by a helicopter in April 1962.

The new cathedral was officially opened on May 25, 1962. For this special occasion, Benjamin Britten composed his famous War Requiem, which was first performed there on May 30.

The Angel with the Eternal Gospel, part of the 'Great West Screen'

The new Coventry Cathedral has a modern design. Inside, you can see a huge tapestry of Christ, designed by Graham Sutherland, which was once thought to be the largest in the world. There's also an emotional sculpture called Mater Dolorosa by John Bridgeman.

The baptistery has a stunning window designed by John Piper, made of 195 panes of glass that change from white to deep colours. The stained glass windows in the Nave, designed by Lawrence Lee, Keith New, and Geoffrey Clarke, tell a story of human life and divine glory. The Great West Window, known as the Screen of Saints and Angels, has beautiful engravings by John Hutton. The foundation stone, the ten stone panels called the Tablets of the Word, and the baptismal font were all designed by Ralph Beyer. The lectern, which holds the Bible, has an eagle-shaped bookrest by sculptor Elisabeth Frink.

A Focus on Faith and Peace

St Michael's Victory over the Devil, a sculpture by Jacob Epstein

Because the cathedral was built on the site of an old Benedictine monastery, it still has a strong Benedictine influence. Many staff members follow Benedictine traditions. The cathedral also has a strong focus on evangelical teachings, emphasizing the Bible and good preaching.

The spire of the original St Michael's Cathedral remains to this day

Coventry Cathedral is also known for its modern services. Besides traditional Sunday services, there's a 6 pm service with contemporary music and prayer. The cathedral also has youth programs like "Goth church" and "Urban Church" to reach young people.

A very important part of the cathedral's work is reconciliation. This means helping people find peace with God and with each other. This work happens locally, helping churches and community groups, and also internationally, especially in the Middle East and central Africa. They work with different groups, including those who have been in conflict, to help them find peace.

Justin Welby, who used to be a leader at the cathedral and is now the Archbishop of Canterbury, started a special day for parents who have lost a child. There is now an annual service to remember children who have died, and a book is kept in the cathedral where parents can add their child's name.

Symbols of Reconciliation

The old cathedral ruins are home to several symbols that represent peace and reconciliation, reflecting the church's mission.

The Charred Cross

The Charred Cross, with the "Father Forgive" inscription behind.

The Charred Cross was created after the cathedral was bombed in World War II. A stonemason named Jock Forbes saw two wooden beams lying in the shape of a cross and tied them together. A copy of this cross now stands in the ruins of the old cathedral on an altar made of rubble. The original Charred Cross is kept inside the new cathedral.

The Cross of Nails

The Cross of Nails was also made after the bombing. Provost Richard Howard created it from three nails found in the roof of the old cathedral. This cross was later moved to the new cathedral, where it sits in the center of the main altar cross.

It has become a worldwide symbol of peace and reconciliation. There are now over 330 "Cross of Nails Centres" around the world, each with a cross made from three nails, similar to the original. When the original nails ran out, new ones were supplied from a prison in Germany. These centers are all connected through the International Centre for Reconciliation.

The Cross of Nails given to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

One of these nail crosses was given to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, Germany. That church was also destroyed by bombing during the war and its ruins are kept as a memorial next to a new building. Another replica was given to the Chapel of Reconciliation, which is part of the Berlin Wall Memorial.

A medieval cross of nails has also been carried on all British warships named HMS Coventry. When the destroyer Coventry was sunk in the Falklands War, the cross was saved by divers and returned to the cathedral. It has since been passed on to other ships named HMS Coventry and now to HMS Diamond, which has ties to Coventry.

The Stalingrad Madonna

A copy of the Stalingrad Madonna, a drawing made in 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), is displayed in the cathedrals of Berlin, Coventry, and Volgograd. It represents the reconciliation between these three countries that were once enemies.

The Statue of Reconciliation

Reconciliation, by Josefina de Vasconcellos

In 1994, Coventry Cathedral received a copy of the statue Reconciliation by Josefina de Vasconcellos. This statue, originally called Reunion, was given to the cathedral in 1995 to mark 50 years since the end of World War II. Other copies of this statue can be found in the Hiroshima Peace Park in Japan, in Northern Ireland, and in Berlin.

Music at Coventry Cathedral

The Organ

The cathedral has a large pipe organ built by Harrison & Harrison in 1962. It is considered one of the best organs in the UK. You can find more details about it on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Directors of Music

The Director of Music is in charge of all the music at the cathedral. Here are some of the people who have held this important role:

Leaders of the Cathedral

As of December 1, 2020, the main leaders of Coventry Cathedral are:

• Dean: John Witcombe (since 2013)
• Canon Precentor and Sub-Dean: David Stone (since 2010)
• Canon Pastor: Kathryn Fleming (since 2014)
• Canon for Art and Reconciliation: Mary Gregory

Notable Burials

Some important people buried at Coventry Cathedral include:

• Gerard la Pucelle, a Bishop of Coventry (1183–1184)
• Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs, the first Bishop of Coventry (1918–1922). His bronze statue was one of the few things to survive the 1940 bombing.

Images for kids

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  St Michael's in Coventry (around 1850)

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  Winston Churchill visiting the ruins of the old cathedral in 1941

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  The surviving tower and steeple, which still has working bells

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  Statue and tomb of Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs, first Bishop of Coventry

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  Josefina de Vasconcellos' 1977 statue Reconciliation in the old cathedral's nave

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  The baptistry window by John Piper from inside the cathedral.

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  Great West Window

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  The font, a boulder from Bethlehem

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  The top of spire of the new cathedral

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  Chapel of Christ in Gethsemane, mosaic by Steven Sykes

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  Bishop Cuthbert Bardsley Memorial

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de Coventry para niños

• Bishop of Coventry
• Dean of Coventry
• List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
• Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, its German counterpart in Berlin