Issue 39 Sept 23 - Journal - Page 27
Coventry Cathedral’s
City of Culture Legacy:
The first major building project since
its consecration, 1962.
A&RMÉ architects creates a copper-clad extension for UK City of Culture, 2021
The Cathedral Precinct is an exceptionally significant
place comprising the foundations of the medieval St
Mary’s Priory Church destroyed during the Dissolution of
the Monasteries in the early 16th century, the standing
ruins of St Michael’s Cathedral which burned on the
night of 14th November 1940, and the New Cathedral
designed by Sir Basil Spence, completed and consecrated
in 1962. The Ruins and New Cathedral are separately
listed Grade I, and the Cathedral Precinct is located along
the north boundary of the Hill Top Conservation Area.
Coventry’s celebrations as the UK City of Culture for
2021-22, presented the opportunity to reignite interest in
this special place as the Cathedral’s Ruins and the Nave
are the largest events spaces within the city centre. The
Cathedral embraced the chance to extend its regular arts
and events programme and reach new audiences.
Pre-pandemic estimates projected that visitor numbers
would reach 2.4 million during the City of Culture year.
As thoughts turned to necessary capital improvements at
key locations across the city, Coventry Cathedral was
invited to suggest essential capital projects, and funding
was sourced from a range of public sector partners, including the Local Enterprise Partnership, the DCMS and the
City Council as well as major grant making trusts, and
local donors.
Coventry Cathedral is an international symbol of peace
and reconciliation: described as the Phoenix which rose
from the ashes of Coventry’s wartime devastation. It is
one of Britain’s most important examples of post-war
architecture. However, the extraordinary number of
visitors who initially flocked to Coventry to visit the
post-war reconstruction of the modern city centre and its
glorious New Cathedral, has diminished over the years.
i
Above, an essay in copper: detail of the south facade
of the extension
i
Conservation & Heritage Journal
25
