Coventry Cathedral, Church of St. Michael

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On our drive to the northern City of York, we made a quick stop at Coventry and headed straight to the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, Church of St. Michael.

The ruins of St Michael’s are the consequence of violence in our own century. On the night of 14 November 1940, the city of Coventry was devastated by bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe. The Cathedral burned with the city, having been hit by several incendiary devices.

The new cathedral was consecrated on 25 May 1962, in the presence of HM The Queen. The ruins remain hallowed ground and together the two create one living Cathedral.

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Photos

St. Michael and The Devil
Epstein’s St. Michael and the Devil guards the Cathedral steps. The cast bronze sculpture depicts the final winning of good over evil.

Statue of Reconciliation
The statue is by Josefina de Vasconcellos who made it at the age of 90. It was donated to the Cathedral by Richard Branson on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II (1995).

Ecce Homo - "Behold the Man"
A sculpture depicting Jesus before Pilate in the grounds of the Cathedral ruins.

Cathedral Ruins
Altar and charred timbers cross - "Father Forgive".

Cathedral Ruins
Tombstone left of Altar - This effigy in bronze is that of H.W.Yeatman-Briggs, first bishop of Coventry. The bronze was created by one Hamo Thornycroft, it was unveiled in 1925. It was damaged in the blitz and was repaired in the 1950s

Holly in Coventry Cathedral
Church of St. Michael, opposite altar area. A good place to sit quietly and contemplate.

Comments

[A site looker]

Very Good
This Site was great. it helped me with my homework, as you show the cathedrals art worek, so i would like to say thanks to that :)

[Skylark]

Good Pictures of the Cathedral
Hope you enjoyed your brief stop in Cov.

[Cool Travelers]

Skylark
Thanks for your comment. We really enjoyed the short stop in Coventry, wish we could live there. Cheers

[Tom]

Thank you
Thanks, Al and Holly, for these lovely photos. One of the most sacred places during my visit five years ago. These images are as clear in my memory as they are in your photographs. What an amazing place, and thank you again!

[Cool Travelers]

Thank you Tom, I appreciate your comments. We love Enland and wish we could live there, at least for some years. We plan to visit again soon. Thanks again for viewing and commenting on our site.