Step inside the New Cathedral, our magnificent ‘casket of jewels’
Standing in unity next to the old cathedral, radiating both continuity and creativity
“Cathedrals are usually impressive – it’s part of their purpose - but entering the new cathedral at Coventry from the shell of the old one produced a “Wow!” moment. Over the years, I had heard several stories about it, but the reality exceeded my expectations.”
— Written by visitor John Mcmurtrie
The New Cathedral: embodying transformation
The New Cathedral is almost shockingly modern - and designed to reveal its charms only slowly. On entering via the "West" window (it actually faces south), your attention will be drawn towards the huge tapestry, filling the wall at the opposite end of the nave. The tapestry is usually bathed in light, yet almost no windows are visible: just tall, grey walls. With your back to the entrance, only one window can be seen - but it is big, beautifully colourful, especially at the start of each day, when sunlight shines directly through it. At its foot, for baptisms which mark new life and beginnings, is the Bethlehem font, carved from a rock brought here from the birthplace of Christ.
The position of the Baptismal window and font at this end of the nave, is a clue. As you make your way along its length, the side windows, each symbolising the trials of life, reveal themselves. Eventually, you reach the altar and the Cross of Nails: death. Yet you can go further still, to the Lady Chapel and the great Sutherland Tapestry depicting Christ in Glory, after death. And from this 'Resurrection perspective', the New Cathedral looks very different, indeed.
Some of these are within the nave, but many are in one of the five separate chapels, accessed via the nave. You can see where they are and find out all about them via the floorplan below.
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1. The Ruins
The Ruins are the remains of a medieval parish church. Hit directly by several incendiary bombs, the Cathedral burned with the city on the 14th November 1940.
Designed by Graham Sutherland, this impressive tapestry was woven by hand on a 500 year old loom and was at one point the largest continuously woven tapestry in the world.
The principle of a Chapel of Unity binding the Church of England and the Free Churches together for Christian service in Coventry was born out of the sufferings of war and the ecumenical enthusiasm of the church leaders.
The impressive large glass ‘west’ screen was designed and hand engraved by John Hutton over the course of 10 years, and features 66 figures depicting saints and angels.
Travel back to wartime Coventry and learn all about life in the 1940s in our Blitz Museum.
Located in the corner of the Cathedral Ruins, the Blitz Museum is a treasure trove of 1940's memorabilia and artefacts. Visitors will learn more about the Coventry Blitz on 14th November 1940 in our period school room, and will then travel through a typical house of the time and learn more about life in this era from one of our friendly and knowledgeable volunteers.
Find out more about visiting the Blitz Museum
Coventry Cathedral is recognised internationally as a centre of peace and reconciliation, we thank the Coventry Lord Mayor's Committee for Peace and Reconciliation for creating the Peace Trail guide for Coventry, with 13 of the destinations featured right here at the Cathedral.
