The new Coventry Cathedral is built beside the old. It is magnificent, and an excellent guide helped us appreciate it. As well there were preparations for (yet another) memorial to 100 years since the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, so we were surrounded by rehearsals of organ music and singing, and for the first time in a long time, a full military rendition of God Save the Queen.
At the altar end of the church (don't know the technical term), there is a tapestry - it weighs a ton. It was woven in France, using French and Australian wool - so we got a bit of a look-in there. Should have checked the proportion of each!
The stained glass can only be seen from the back of the church, as you are leaving after the service. As you enter, you do not know what is ahead, until you get to the end - oh dear - a bit like life - or walking the camino.
The pillars were narrower at the base, rising to a wooden ceiling. Shades of Gaudi's architecture in Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
And you can see the two sets of organ pipes on either side.
And this is the stained glass window beside the font. You can see some of the servicemen waiting/preparing for the Evensong.
There was much more, all presented very well by our guide, John.
It reminded me of St Patrick's, Parramatta. When the old cathedral burned down, the opportunity was taken to build a bright new church beside the old.
Time to catch our bus back to Leicester. We could have spent more time in Coventry.
At the altar end of the church (don't know the technical term), there is a tapestry - it weighs a ton. It was woven in France, using French and Australian wool - so we got a bit of a look-in there. Should have checked the proportion of each!
The pillars were narrower at the base, rising to a wooden ceiling. Shades of Gaudi's architecture in Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
And you can see the two sets of organ pipes on either side.
And this is the stained glass window beside the font. You can see some of the servicemen waiting/preparing for the Evensong.
It reminded me of St Patrick's, Parramatta. When the old cathedral burned down, the opportunity was taken to build a bright new church beside the old.
Time to catch our bus back to Leicester. We could have spent more time in Coventry.
It does seem like sagrada familia - the same sort of feeling in the church. Very pretty. might have to put it on my list of places to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt was the guide who made a big difference. There was a GBP5 entry fee, which included the guide. He took his time, which gave us time to appreciate it all.
ReplyDelete