Founded with a Saxon nunnery circa AD 700, Coventry has endured conflict with King Canute (whose army destroyed the nunnery), Henry II (whose army largely destroyed Coventry Castle), Henry VIII (whose Reformation saw the destruction of the first cathedral), Charles I (Coventry was a parliamentary stronghold) and, in 1940, with Hitler’s Luftwaffe. The city and cathedral share a history of conflict just as, today, they share a determination to build justice and peace, by healing wounds and learning to live with difference.
Opening times
Today, Sat 27th April
Open
10:00am–4:00pm
Coventry Cathedral is open as normal today
General visiting times for the New Cathedral & Ruins
Mon-Sat 10:00am–4:00pm
Sun 12:00pm–3:30pm
Sun 12:00pm–3:30pm
These opening times apply to the New Cathedral & Ruins. Other Cathedral locations' times differ.
Chronology of Coventry Cathedral
700
Coventry Founded
St Osburga founds a convent (or nunnery) beside the Sherbourne River, prompting further settlement around it. The name Coventry is thought to have been derived from convent.
700
Coventry Founded
St Osburga founds a convent (or nunnery) beside the Sherbourne River, prompting further settlement around it. The name Coventry is thought to have been derived from convent.
1016
Convent destroyed
The Convent was destroyed and, it is thought, all nuns murdered, by vikings led by King Canute.
1016
Convent destroyed
The Convent was destroyed and, it is thought, all nuns murdered, by vikings led by King Canute.
1043
A new monastery
Leofric, Earl of Mercia (husband of Lady Godiva) founds a Benedictine monastery at Coventry, dedicated to St Mary.
1043
A new monastery
Leofric, Earl of Mercia (husband of Lady Godiva) founds a Benedictine monastery at Coventry, dedicated to St Mary.
1102
The abbey is given cathedral status
The name Priory Church of St Mary is given. Over the next few centuries, it is redeveloped in different styles of architecture: Norman, Romanesque and Gothic.
1102
The abbey is given cathedral status
The name Priory Church of St Mary is given. Over the next few centuries, it is redeveloped in different styles of architecture: Norman, Romanesque and Gothic.
1137
Coventry’s second castle
Coventry Castle built (on the site of an earlier one) by the 2nd Earl of Chester, who successfully fought off attacks by King Stephen during ‘The Anarchy’.
1137
Coventry’s second castle
Coventry Castle built (on the site of an earlier one) by the 2nd Earl of Chester, who successfully fought off attacks by King Stephen during ‘The Anarchy’.
c.1150
St Michael’s parish church built
This church established the location of the future cathedral. It lasted for three hundred years.
c.1150
St Michael’s parish church built
This church established the location of the future cathedral. It lasted for three hundred years.
1173
Coventry Castle attacked by Henry II
The 3rd Earl of Chester mounts a successful defence, but the castle is severely damaged.
1173
Coventry Castle attacked by Henry II
The 3rd Earl of Chester mounts a successful defence, but the castle is severely damaged.
1450
St Michael’s church rebuilt
Rivalry between Coventry’s two landlords results two parish churches, right beside each other on either side of their mutual boundary. The new St Michael’s is one of the largest parish churches in England, famous for being the tallest of the ‘three spires of Coventry’, the others being the of the church next door, Holy Trinity, and Christ Church, Greyfriars.
1450
St Michael’s church rebuilt
Rivalry between Coventry’s two landlords results two parish churches, right beside each other on either side of their mutual boundary. The new St Michael’s is one of the largest parish churches in England, famous for being the tallest of the ‘three spires of Coventry’, the others being the of the church next door, Holy Trinity, and Christ Church, Greyfriars.
1539
Dissolution of the monasteries
St Mary’s Cathedral is destroyed and the See of Coventry & Lichfield is transferred to Lichfield.
1539
Dissolution of the monasteries
St Mary’s Cathedral is destroyed and the See of Coventry & Lichfield is transferred to Lichfield.
1642
English Civil War
Coventry is successfully defended against attack from King Charles I’s 6,000 strong army.
1642
English Civil War
Coventry is successfully defended against attack from King Charles I’s 6,000 strong army.
1645
Royalist prisoners 'sent to Coventry'
Coventry's jail was used as a central place to imprison captured Royalists. The expression ‘sent to Coventry’ is thought to stem from the hostility shown to prisoners. It might have an earlier origin, from when Coventry was a place of execution, where heretics were sent to be burned at the stake.
1645
Royalist prisoners 'sent to Coventry'
Coventry's jail was used as a central place to imprison captured Royalists. The expression ‘sent to Coventry’ is thought to stem from the hostility shown to prisoners. It might have an earlier origin, from when Coventry was a place of execution, where heretics were sent to be burned at the stake.
1918
Diocese of Coventry created
The 15th century parish church of St Michael was simultaneously elevated to the status of a cathedral, making Coventry a cathedral city again after a gap of almost 400 years.
1918
Diocese of Coventry created
The 15th century parish church of St Michael was simultaneously elevated to the status of a cathedral, making Coventry a cathedral city again after a gap of almost 400 years.
1940
Bombing raids devastate Coventry
The most severe raid, which the Luftwaffe code-named ‘Moonlight Sonata’, was on the night of 14th November. An estimated 568 people were killed and 4,300 homes destroyed, along with St Michael’s Cathedral.
1940
Bombing raids devastate Coventry
The most severe raid, which the Luftwaffe code-named ‘Moonlight Sonata’, was on the night of 14th November. An estimated 568 people were killed and 4,300 homes destroyed, along with St Michael’s Cathedral.
1940
The decision to rebuild in hope, not defiance
15th November. The morning after he was on the roof of the cathedral, trying to save it from the incendiary bombs, Provost Howard inspects the smouldering ruins. The decision to rebuild the cathedral was taken that morning. In line with the vision of Provost Howard, rebuilding would not be an act of defiance, but rather a sign of faith, trust and hope for the future of the world.
Shortly after the destruction, the cathedral stonemason, Jock Forbes, noticed that two of the charred medieval roof timbers had fallen in the shape of a cross. He set them up in the ruins where they were later placed on an altar of rubble with the moving words ‘Father Forgive’ inscribed on the Sanctuary wall. Another cross was fashioned from three medieval nails by local priest, the Revd Arthur Wales.
The photograph below is of Provost Howard on Christmas Day, 1940, conducting a service held in the ruins and broadcast nationally, by the BBC.
1940
The decision to rebuild in hope, not defiance
15th November. The morning after he was on the roof of the cathedral, trying to save it from the incendiary bombs, Provost Howard inspects the smouldering ruins. The decision to rebuild the cathedral was taken that morning. In line with the vision of Provost Howard, rebuilding would not be an act of defiance, but rather a sign of faith, trust and hope for the future of the world.
Shortly after the destruction, the cathedral stonemason, Jock Forbes, noticed that two of the charred medieval roof timbers had fallen in the shape of a cross. He set them up in the ruins where they were later placed on an altar of rubble with the moving words ‘Father Forgive’ inscribed on the Sanctuary wall. Another cross was fashioned from three medieval nails by local priest, the Revd Arthur Wales.
The photograph below is of Provost Howard on Christmas Day, 1940, conducting a service held in the ruins and broadcast nationally, by the BBC.
1951
A competition to design a new cathedral
Conditions were published inviting designs for a new cathedral at Coventry. Remarkably, they did not follow the recommendation of Lord Harlech’s 1947 commission that the new cathedral should be in the gothic tradition, nor the proposal of the Cathedral Council that it should harmonise with the surviving tower and spire. This opened up the possibility of a more modernist approach.
1951
A competition to design a new cathedral
Conditions were published inviting designs for a new cathedral at Coventry. Remarkably, they did not follow the recommendation of Lord Harlech’s 1947 commission that the new cathedral should be in the gothic tradition, nor the proposal of the Cathedral Council that it should harmonise with the surviving tower and spire. This opened up the possibility of a more modernist approach.
1951
Basil Spence wins
The winner of the competition to design a new Coventry Cathedral was announced. The three assessors - all architects selected by the Royal Institute of British Architects - chose the Scottish architect, Basil Spence, then best known for designing the Sea & Ships pavilion on London’s South Bank. Whilst not all responses were favourable, the Bishop of Coventry declared “It is the one I should have chosen myself’.
1951
Basil Spence wins
The winner of the competition to design a new Coventry Cathedral was announced. The three assessors - all architects selected by the Royal Institute of British Architects - chose the Scottish architect, Basil Spence, then best known for designing the Sea & Ships pavilion on London’s South Bank. Whilst not all responses were favourable, the Bishop of Coventry declared “It is the one I should have chosen myself’.
1956
Founding a new cathedral
23rd March. Her Majesty the Queen laid the foundation stone for the New Cathedral.
1956
Founding a new cathedral
23rd March. Her Majesty the Queen laid the foundation stone for the New Cathedral.
1962
The Consecration Ceremony
The New Cathedral is consecrated in a grand ceremony in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
1962
The Consecration Ceremony
The New Cathedral is consecrated in a grand ceremony in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
2000
First worldwide Community of the Cross of Nails conference
Is held at Coventry Cathedral, the place that inspired the organisation which now runs in over 30 countries to build global peace.
2000
First worldwide Community of the Cross of Nails conference
Is held at Coventry Cathedral, the place that inspired the organisation which now runs in over 30 countries to build global peace.
2012
50th anniversary
A 50th anniversary is attended by a congregation of 1,800 guests including clergy and dignitaries from all over the world.
2012
50th anniversary
A 50th anniversary is attended by a congregation of 1,800 guests including clergy and dignitaries from all over the world.
Today
We continue to welcome visitors and worshippers
Coventry Cathedral continues to stand as a powerful symbol of peace and reconciliation and as an active centre of the Christian faith.
Today
We continue to welcome visitors and worshippers
Coventry Cathedral continues to stand as a powerful symbol of peace and reconciliation and as an active centre of the Christian faith.
Useful information
© Coventry Cathedral 2024
Coventry Cathedral is the working name of The Cathedral Church of St Michael Coventry (Registered charity no. 1204257)
Website created by Suru Partners