Coventry Cathedral
The city of Coventry, West Midlands, England is unusual in the United Kingdom in that it has two cathedrals which both belong to the Church of England
The roofless ruins of the old cathedral.
The exterior of the ruins of the old cathedral
The exterior of the modern cathedral
The first, now in ruins, was bombed to destruction on November 14, 1940 by the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War. The new cathedral built next to the remains of the old cathedral was designed by Basil Spence. The ruin of the older cathedral remains hallowed ground.
It was decided that instead of re-building the old cathedral, it would be left in ruins as a reminder of the bombing, and that a new modern cathedral should be built alongside.
The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid by the Queen on March 23, 1956, and it was consecrated on May 25, 1962. Its modern design caused some controversy. The unconventional spire was lowered onto the flat roof by helicopter. The interior is notable for a large tapestry of Christ, designed by Graham Sutherland and for the Baptistry window designed by John Piper. This is a stained glass window of abstract design, compounded from many elemental panes, which occupies the full height of one wall.
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