Coventry Cathedral

Coventry Cathedral
Cathedral Church of St Michael
Coventry Cathedral
Shown within West Midlands
Coordinates: 52°24′30″N 1°30′25″W / 52.408333°N 1.506944°W / 52.408333; -1.506944
Location Coventry city centre, West Midlands
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Website www.coventrycathedral.org.uk
History
Consecrated 1962
Architecture
Previous cathedrals 2
Architect(s) Basil Spence
Style Regional modern
Years built 1956–1962
Administration
Diocese Coventry (since 1918)
Province Canterbury
Clergy
Bishop(s) Christopher Cocksworth
Dean John Witcombe
Precentor David Stone (Sub-Dean)
Canon(s) Sarah Hills (Canon for Reconciliation)
Canon Pastor Kathryn Fleming
The interior of the old cathedral, c. 1880

The Cathedral Church of St Michael, commonly known as Coventry Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current (9th) bishop is Christopher Cocksworth and the current Dean is John Witcombe.

The city has had three cathedrals. The first was St Mary's, a monastic building, of which only a few ruins remain. The second was St Michael's, a 14th-century Gothic church later designated cathedral, that remains a ruined shell after its bombing during the Second World War. The third is the new St Michael's Cathedral, built after the destruction of the former.

St Mary's Priory

The first cathedral in Coventry was St Mary's Priory and Cathedral, 1095 to 1102, when Robert de Limesey moved the bishop's see from Lichfield to Coventry,[1] until 1539 when it fell victim to Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries. Prior to 1095, it had been a small Benedictine monastery (endowed by Leofric, Earl of Mercia and Lady Godiva in 1043),[2] Shortly after 1095 rebuilding began and by the middle of the 13th century it was a cathedral of 142 yards in length and included many large outbuildings.[3] Leofric was probably buried within the original Saxon church in Coventry. However, records suggest that Godiva was buried at Evesham Abbey, alongside her father confessor, Prior Aefic.[4]

St Michael's Cathedral

First structure

The roofless ruins of the old cathedral.

St Michael's Church was largely constructed between the late 14th century and early 15th century. It was one of the largest parish churches in England when, in 1918, it was elevated to cathedral status on the creation of Coventry Diocese.[5] This St Michael's Cathedral now stands ruined, bombed almost to destruction during the Coventry Blitz of 14 November 1940 by the German Luftwaffe. Only the tower, spire, the outer wall and the bronze effigy and tomb of its first bishop, Huyshe Yeatman-Biggs, survived. The ruins of this older cathedral remain hallowed ground and are listed at Grade I.[6] Following the bombing of the medieval cathedral in 1940, Provost Richard Howard had the words "Father Forgive" inscribed on the wall behind the altar of the ruined building. The spire rises to 90 m (295 ft)[7] and is the tallest structure in the city. It is also the third tallest cathedral spire in England, with only Salisbury and Norwich cathedrals rising higher.

Present structure

The new cathedral as seen from the tower of the old cathedral.
The interior of the new cathedral.

The current St Michael's Cathedral, built next to the remains of the old, was designed by Basil Spence and Arup, built by John Laing[8] and is a Grade I listed building.[9]

The selection of Spence for the work was a result of a competition held in 1950 to find an architect for the new Coventry Cathedral; his design was chosen from over two hundred submitted.

Spence (later knighted for this work) insisted that instead of re-building the old cathedral it should be kept in ruins as a garden of remembrance and that the new cathedral should be built alongside, the two buildings together effectively forming one church.[10] The use of Hollington sandstone for the new Coventry Cathedral provides an element of unity between the buildings.

The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid by Elizabeth II on 23 March 1956.[11] The unconventional spire (known as a flèche) is 80 feet (24 m) tall and was lowered onto the flat roof by a helicopter, flown by Wing Commander John Dowling in April 1962.[12]

The cathedral was consecrated on 25 May 1962, and Benjamin Britten's War Requiem, composed for the occasion, was premiered in the new cathedral on 30 May to mark its consecration.[13][14]

Christ in Glory tapestry by Graham Sutherland

Coventry's modernist design caused much discussion, but on opening to the public it rapidly became a hugely popular symbol of reconciliation in post-war Britain. The interior is notable for its huge tapestry (once thought to be the world's largest) of Christ, designed by Graham Sutherland, the emotive sculpture of the Mater Dolorosa by John Bridgeman in the East end, and the Baptistry window designed by John Piper (made by Patrick Reyntiens), of abstract design that occupies the full height of the bowed baptistery, which comprises 195 panes, ranging from white to deep colours. The stained glass windows in the Nave, by Lawrence Lee, Keith New and Geoffrey Clarke, face away from the congregation. Spence's concept for these Nave windows was that the opposite pairs would represent a pattern of growth from birth to old age, culminating in heavenly glory nearest the altar — one side representing Human, the other side, the Divine. Also worthy of note is the Great West Window known as the Screen of Saints and Angels, engraved directly onto the screen in expressionist style by John Hutton. (Although referred to as the West Window, this is the 'liturgical west' opposite the altar which is traditionally at the east end. In this cathedral the altar is actually at the north end.) The foundation stone, the ten stone panels inset into the walls of the cathedral called the Tablets of the Word, and the baptismal font were designed and carved by the émigré German letter carver Ralph Beyer.

Theological emphasis

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

As the cathedral was built on the site of a Benedictine monastery, there has always been a gentle Benedictine influence on the cathedral community. A number of the cathedral staff become third order (lay) Benedictines and there are often cathedral retreats to Burford Priory. Since the opening of the new cathedral in 1962 there has been a gentle evangelical emphasis. This has been strengthened by the former Dean, John Irvine, who was involved in creating the Alpha Course and previously served at Holy Trinity Brompton, and also as vicar of the first Brompton church plant, St Barnabas, Kensington. The cathedral has a strong emphasis on the Bible and aims to be a centre for good preaching and training for the diocese. It runs regular mission events such as the innovative Spirit of Life days where over 2,000 local residents are encouraged to explore their faith in God through Christian spirituality.

The cathedral is also known for innovation in its services. As well as the expected traditional services (on Sundays, Cathedral Eucharist at 10.30 a.m. and Choral Evensong at 4.00 p.m.), there is a 6.30 p.m. Sunday service with contemporary music, preaching and prayer ministry. The Cathedral Youth Work runs Goth church and Urban Church outreach congregations for local groups of young people, an equipping and supporting cell group for youth workers within Coventry churches as well as a number of other regular groups. There continues to be a strong influence of reconciliation within the theology (both vertical: reconciling people to God; and horizontal: reconciling individuals and groups). This is present throughout the ministry of the cathedral but is most clearly seen in the International Centre for Reconciliation and the International Network of Communities of the Cross of Nails. The reconciliation work exists locally in reconciling churches and community groups but also internationally (predominantly in the Middle East and central Africa) working with terrorists and dictators as well as local churches, tribes and gangs.

Justin Welby (then a canon of the cathedral) established a special day for bereaved parents in the cathedral after the death of his own daughter. There is now an annual service commemorating the lives of children who have died. A book with the names of lost children is on display in the cathedral and anyone who has lost a child under any circumstances can ask for their child's name to be added to the book.[15]

The Charred Cross and the Cross of Nails

Charred cross
The oldest Cross of Nails in Germany donated to the Church St. Nikolai (Kiel).
The spire of the original St Michael's Cathedral remains to this day.

The Charred Cross and the Cross of Nails were created after the cathedral was bombed during the Coventry Blitz of the Second World War. The cathedral stonemason, Jock Forbes, saw two wooden beams lying in the shape of a cross and tied them together. A replica of the Charred Cross built in 1964 has replaced the original in the ruins of the old cathedral on an altar of rubble. The original is now kept on the stairs linking the cathedral with St Michael's Hall below.

The Cross of Nails was made of three nails from the roof truss of the old cathedral by Provost Richard Howard of Coventry Cathedral at the suggestion of a young friend, The Rev. A.P. Wales. It was later transferred to the new cathedral, where it sits in the centre of the altar cross. It has become a symbol of peace and reconciliation across the world. There are over 330 Cross of Nails Centres all over the world, all of them bearing a cross made of three nails from the ruins, similar to the original one. When there were no more of these nails, a continuing supply have come from a prison in Germany. They are co-ordinated by the International Centre for Reconciliation.

The Cross of Nails donated to the Church Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church.

One of the crosses made of nails from the old cathedral was donated to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, which was destroyed by Allied bombing and is also kept as a ruin alongside a newer building. A replica of the cross of nails was also donated to the Chapel of Reconciliation (Kapelle der Versöhnung) which forms part of the Berlin Wall Memorial. A copy of the Stalingrad Madonna by Kurt Reuber that was drawn in 1942 in Stalingrad (now Volgograd) is shown in the cathedrals of all three cities (Berlin, Coventry and Volgograd) as a sign of the reconciliation of the three countries that were once enemies.

A medieval cross of nails has also been carried on board all British warships who subsequently bear the name HMS Coventry.[16] The cross of nails was on board the Type 42 destroyer Coventry when she was sunk by enemy action in the Falklands War. The cross was salvaged by Royal Navy divers, and presented to Coventry Cathedral by the ship's Captain and colleagues.[17] The cross was subsequently presented first to the next Coventry in 1988 until she was decommissioned in 2002, and then to HMS Diamond, which is affiliated to Coventry, during her commissioning ceremony on 6 May 2011 by Captain David Hart-Dyke, the commanding officer of Coventry when she was sunk.[18]

BBC broadcast a documentary in 1962 entitled Act of Faith, narrated by Leo Genn, detailed the history of Coventry Cathedral, its destruction and rebuilding.[19]

Music

The precentor of the new Coventry Cathedral at the opening service was Joseph Poole.[20] The service was televised and watched by many.

Organ

The cathedral has a pipe organ by Harrison & Harrison dating from 1962. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Directors of Music

Year Name
ca. 1505 John Gylbard[21]
1733–1749 Thomas Deane
1750–1790 Capel Bond
1790–1818 ??? Woodroffe
1828–1885 Edward Simms
1886–1892 Herbert Brewer
1892–1898 Harry Crane Perrin (afterwards organist of Canterbury Cathedral)
1898 Walter Hoyle (first organist of the cathedral)
1928 Harold Rhodes
1933 Alan Stephenson
1961 David Foster Lepine
1972 Robert Weddle
1977 Ian Little
1984 Paul Leddington Wright (now Assistant Director of Music)
1995 David Poulter (subsequently organist of Chester Cathedral and Director of Music at Liverpool Cathedral)
1997 Rupert Jeffcoat (subsequently director of music and organist at Brisbane Cathedral)
2005 Alistair Reid (acting director of music)
2006 Kerry Beaumont

Assistant organists

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Dean and chapter

As of 12 January 2018:[22]

  • Dean — John Witcombe (since 19 January 2013)
  • Canon Precentor and Sub-Dean — David Stone (canon since 5 September 2010;[23] sub-dean since April 2014)
  • Canon Pastor — Kathryn Fleming (since 31 May 2014)
  • Canon for Reconciliation — Sarah Hills (since 14 September 2014)

Burials

See also

References

  1. ↑ Nicolas, Nicholas Harris (1825). A synopsis of the peerage of England: exhibiting, under alphabetical arrangement, the date of creation, descent and present state of every title of peerage which has existed in this country since the conquest... J. Nichols and son. p. 862.
  2. ↑ Page, William (1908). The City of Coventry: Churches: Introduction. A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 8: The City of Coventry and Borough of Warwick.
  3. ↑ Vail, Anne (2004). Shrines of Our Lady in England. Gracewing Publishing. p. 56. ISBN 978-0852446034.
  4. ↑ McGrory, David (1 October 2003). A history of Coventry. Phillimore. p. 17. ISBN 978-1860772641. (Subscription required (help)).
  5. ↑ Pepin, David (2004). Discovering Cathedrals. Bloomsbury USA. p. 58. ISBN 9780747805977. (Subscription required (help)).
  6. ↑ Historic England. "Ruined Cathedral Church of St Michael, Coventry (1076651)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  7. ↑ Demidowicz, George (2003). Buildings of Coventry: an illustrated architectural history. Stroud: Tempus. p. 28. ISBN 978-0752431154. (Subscription required (help)).
  8. ↑ "Sir Basil Spence". The Guardian. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  9. ↑ Historic England. "Cathedral of St Michael, Coventry (1342941)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  10. ↑ Mansell, George (1979). Anatomy of architecture. A & W Publishers. p. 178. ISBN 978-0894790430. (Subscription required (help)).
  11. ↑ Thomas, John (1987). Coventry Cathedral. Unwin Hyman. p. 129. ISBN 978-0044400110. (Subscription required (help)).
  12. ↑ "Wing Commander John Dowling". The Daily Telegraph. 28 July 2000. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  13. ↑ Havighurst, Alfred F. (15 September 1985). Britain in Transition: The Twentieth Century. University of Chicago Press. p. 643. ISBN 978-0226319704. (Subscription required (help)).
  14. ↑ Roncace, Mark; Gray, Patrick (5 November 2007). Teaching the Bible Through Popular Culture and the Arts. Society of Biblical Lit. p. 60.
  15. ↑ Lutwyche, Jayne; Millington, Karen (9 November 2012). "The new Archbishop of Canterbury: 10 lesser-known things". BBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  16. ↑ "Cross of nails recovered from wreck of HMS Coventry goes to Royal Navy's newest warship". Coventry Telegraph. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  17. ↑ The Army quarterly and defence journal, Volume 113. West of England Press. p. 229.
  18. ↑ "Navy's newest ship will carry a poignant reminder of the past". The Portsmouth News. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  19. ↑ Baker, Simon; Terris, Olwen, eds. (February 1994). A to Z: A for Andromeda to Zoo time : the TV holdings of the National Film and Television Archive, 1936–1979. British Film Institute. p. 3.
  20. ↑ "St Michael". English Cathedrals Music. 14 November 1998. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  21. ↑ Stephens, W B, ed. (1969). "The City of Coventry: Churches, Churches built before 1800". A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 8, the City of Coventry and Borough of Warwick. London: British History Online. pp. 321–361. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  22. ↑ Coventry Cathedral — Our leadership team (Accessed 12 January 2018)
  23. ↑ "Cathedral Eucharist Sermons". Coventry Cathedral. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
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