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What is Reconciliation?

Reflections on Reconciliation

In 2014 our American CCN partners funded a project to capture the voices and reflections of all six Canons for Reconciliation that there had then been in the lifetime of the (new) Cathedral. The resulting series of filmed interviews has been viewed and used to inspire and teach very many times in the intervening years, and the films still hold so much relevance today, listed below in the order in which the Canons served at the Cathedral, beginning with Canon Kenyon Wright in the 1970s and building up to the most recent, Canon Sarah Hills, in the 2010s.

Subsequently in 2022 the Rev Canon Mary Gregory joined us as Coventry's first Canon for Arts and Reconciliation, and her interview, recorded just before she moved on from Coventry, updates the series.

Reflection on Reconciliation:

Reverend Canon Mary Gregory

Just before Canon Mary left us in early 2025 as Canon for Arts and Reconciliation – our first for Arts, but our seventh for Reconciliation - we sat down to talk to her about her own time here and what wisdom she has to share.

Reverend Canon Dr. Sarah Hills

In this interview, Revd Canon Dr. Sarah Hills explores the multifaceted nature of reconciliation, its significance in both theology and community, and how Coventry’s history informs its ongoing role as a center of peace and healing.

Canon David Porter

Canon David Porter reflects on the complexities of reconciliation--how it is not about erasing differences but transforming conflict, how Coventry's legacy shaped his work in rebuilding relationships worldwide, and how storytelling plays a crucial role in healing the wounds of history.

The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Justin Welby

Drawing on his experiences at Coventry Cathedral, the Most Revd and Right Hon Justin Welby offers insights into how reconciliation can transform destructive conflict into constructive disagreement, sharing guiding principles and reflections from around the globe.

Reverend Canon Andrew White

In this conversation, Canon Andrew White reflects on how Coventry's legacy shaped his work in Baghdad and beyond, offering insights into the essence of reconciliation--how it transforms enemies into friends and finds its deepest expression in acts of love and forgiveness.


Reverend Canon Paul Oestreicher

Revd Canon Paul Oestreicher reflects on the profound and often uncomfortable reality of reconciliation--not as a simple ideal, but as the radical act of loving one's enemies. Drawing on Coventry's legacy, his work in Germany, South Africa, and beyond, he explores the personal, political, and theological challenges of forgiveness, justice, and peace in a fractured world.

Reverend Canon Kenyon Wright

In this reflection, Revd Canon Kenyon Wright--Coventry's first Canon for Reconciliation and founder of the formal Community of the Cross of Nails--discusses reconciliation as healing the wounds of history, restoring relationships, addressing global inequities, and shaping Coventry's lasting impact worldwide.

Other Films

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