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You are here: Home / 85th Blitz Commemorations / 85th Blitz Commemorations

85th Blitz Commemorations

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz of 1940, that took place on Thursday the 14th of November, a night which saw devastation across Coventry and saw the destruction of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael.

In the aftermath of that terrible night there were two choices - revenge or forgiveness. Provost Howard’s response to the destruction of the Cathedral was one of immediate forgiveness and of rebuilding the Cathedral as a beacon of hope for the future, a message which continues to this day.

You can find out more about our journey to peacebuilding through the projects, programmes and ideas born at Coventry Cathedral that have led us to be internationally recognised as a symbol of hope and reconciliation below.

On this page you will find information about our journey of peace-building in the lead up to our 85th anniversary of remembrance. The programme of events will follow this autumn.

Our story of forgiveness

Coventry Cathedral is most famously known for being bombed during WW2, which left Coventry Cathedral and much of the city centre in ruins.

From this comes the story of Coventry Cathedral's reconciliation, which begins the day after the destruction of the Old Cathedral on the 14th November 1940, Provost Dick Howard (who led the Cathedral during WW2) made a commitment to not seek revenge, but to strive for forgiveness and, ultimately, reconciliation with those responsible, which at the time was seen to be very radical thinking, as we were still at war with Germany.

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Reconciliation Ministry

Coventry Cathedral has long been recognised worldwide as one of the world’s oldest religious-based centres for reconciliation, with our work in recent decades being involved in some of the world’s most difficult and long-standing areas of conflict.

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Litany of Reconciliation

The phrase Father Forgive was inscribed on the wall of the ruined Cathedral by Provost Dick Howard after the Blitz, where it can still be seen today.

The Litany of Reconciliation, was written by Canon Joseph Poole in 1958, and continues to be prayed in the Cathedral every weekday at noon, and throughout the world by partners in the Community of the Cross of Nails.

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Community of the Cross of Nails

Coventry Cathedral is unique in having its own network of partners around the world, there are now over 250 partners in 20 countries from churches, charities, chaplaincies, peace-building and retreat centres, schools and other educational and training organisations, all inspired by the Coventry story of destruction, rebuilding and renewal, and active in reconciliation in our own ways.

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Next Generation of Peacebuilders

Since 2009 Coventry Cathedral has operated the ICON Schools network, a programme that aims to bring this ministry of peace and reconciliation into schools so that a new generation of peace-makers and reconcilers can make their impact on their communities.

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Blitz Programme

This autumn we will hold a series of events to mark the 85th Blitz commemorations. More to follow later this year.

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