ST. MICHAEL`S CHURCH--COVENTRY.

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. This St. Michael`s Cathedral now stands ruined, bombed almost to destruction during the Coventry blitz on 14th November 1940 by the German Luftwaffe. Only the tower, spire, the outer wall and the bronze effigy and tomb of it`s first bishop, Huyshe Wolcott Yeatman-Biggs, survived. The ruins of this older cathedral remain hallowed ground and are listed at grade 1. Following the bombing of the medieval cathedral in 1940, provost Howard had the words "Father Forgive" inscribed on the wall behind the alter of the ruined building. The spire rises to 90m (295 feet ) 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 90 metre high spire amazingly not hit by German bombs during the Coventry Blitz.

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Wooden Cross and Cross of Nails were created after the cathedral was bombed during the Coventry Blitz of World War II. The cathedral stonemason, Jock Forbes, saw two wooden beams lying in the shape of a cross and tied them together. A replica of the wooden cross built in 1964 has replaced the original in the ruins of the old cathedral on an alter of rubble. Notice in the background the words "FATHER FORGIVE".

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Effigy and tomb of Bishop Huyshe Wolcott Yeatman Biggs, first bishop of Coventry.

 

 

 

Close up of the Effigy`s head.

 

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Ecce Homo.

The statue was carved by Jacob Epstein during 1934-5 from a block of subicao marble. It was given to Coventry cathedral at the wish of Lady Epstein and dedicated on 22nd March 1969.

 

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The statue of Christ.

This is a second casting, in concrete, of a statue at Blundell`s School in Devon. It was created by an 18 year old pupil, Alain John. The headmaster, Neville Gorton, later became bishop of Coventry and on the death of Alain John, an RAF Navigator, in 1943 at the age of 23, the statue was recast for Coventry as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the war. The statue represents Christ blessing the multitude.

 

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Josefina De Vasconcellos statue Reconciliation in the old cathedral`s Nave.

 

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Choir of Survivors.

The statue, called Choir of Survivors, is the work of the German artist Helmut Heinze. It`s a symbol of hope, of new life rising out of destruction said the bishop of Coventry the Right Reverend Christopher Cocksworth. It`s a gift from the Frauenkirche in Dresden, a wonderful church that was destroyed by allied bombing. An amazing story of reconciliation has happened over the years between Coventry and Dresden, particularly between Coventry cathedral and the Frauenkirche.



 

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Memorial to the Home Front.

 

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To be continued. (more of Coventry).