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November 18, 2003

Sent to Coventry

The City of Coventry is famous for many things, not least for Lady Godiva and her protest ride through the city. Post 1940, it is probably as well remembered for the terrible destruction wrought by the fire storm that followed the Luftwaffe's visit which destroyed the Cathedral and most of the city. Yet some parts survived, and the ruins of the old cathedral stand alongside the modern one as a living monument to faith and reconciliation.

Today I visited the city for the first time. It was a reconnaisance run to check the arrangements and find the locations for my Graduation tomorrow. It gave me the opportunity to see at first hand the old and the new. Far from being a sad collection of ruined and damaged walls, I found the old cathedral strangely moving, a place of peace and of prayer still.

As I left, descending the steps to the entrance of the new cathedral I was struck by the image reflected in the window before me. I share it here with you.

/gray_monk/Photos/2003-11-18--Coventry_Angels_Gather.jpg

Since 1940 Coventry has been rebuilt and now stands as a beacon for reconciliation. The Cross of nails, first found in the smouldering ruins of the burned out cathedral has come to symbolise the efforts of this community to put behind them the horror of what happened to them and to share their healing with others who have suffered similarly. Replica crosses have gone to various cities devastated in war including Hiroshima, Dresden, Hamburg and others.

Reconciliation is probably one of the most difficult areas of Christian lving since it requires the desire of both parties to have reconciliation. It cannot occur in any situation where one side harbours a desire for revenge, it must come from a genuine desire on both sides to put aside the pain and the past - not to forget, but to move on in hope and remembrance.

The former nave is still used for worship, its focus, the former high altar now surmounted by a burned cross made of roof timbers from the fire and the words "Father forgive" carved into the wall behind.

A moving place and a place of hope amid the ruins.

Posted by The Gray Monk at November 18, 2003 11:46 PM