Coventry Cathedral

The beautiful Cathedral Church of Saint Michael, also known as Coventry Cathedral is the official seat of the Archbishop of Coventry and the diocese of Coventry inside the Church of England. The cathedral is situated in Coventry, West Midlands, England, the county closest to London. It was built in the tenth century and was rebuilt after the rebuilt of the city’s churches. It is believed that it was during this time that the first Latin saint was born in the area. This cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area as it attracts large numbers of visitors on a number of occasions such as World Heritage Status and Christmas and Easter dates.

If you want to experience the timeless beauty of the historic city of Coventry then there are two ways in which you can do this. The first is to visit the Coventry Cathedral as it is situated at the centre of the city centre. It is possible to book into the visitor centre for afternoon tea or lunch as well as a guided tour of the entire cathedral. This tour is often given by the university and runs along with a series of workshops and events throughout the year.

A less guided option is to ride in a trundle from the top of the Coventry cathedral on horseback. This is often done as part of a publicity stunt organised by the cathedral to mark its centennial anniversary. However, the trundle tour is not for those who are afraid of heights as the trundles ascend to the very top of the Coventry Cathedral. The trundles depart from the west end of the cathedral, where the usual shops and visitor facilities are located. The trundle then makes its way through the main church and finally stops outside the consecrated chapel which houses the relics of the Revived Queen. You can view the exterior of the chapel from the terrace of the adjacent church.

Once inside the Coventry Cathedral you will be confronted by a large ornate clock tower. On each floor the clock faces in a different direction, whilst each floor has its own unique name engraved on its face. The clock’s presence within the centre of the cathedral is designed to evoke the centuries-old idea of a time in the west and the north, with each quarter hour divided into four sections of ten minutes. It is possible to attend the special evening service under the dome from around twelve onwards but the view from the top of the clock is limited to a short distance.

Prior, to the arrival of its two sisters the Coventry cathedral was originally a ruin due to the bombardment during the second world war. The damaged remains of the original buildings can still be seen in many places including the wrecked Convent of St John the Baptist, which is located directly below the Cathedral. Other ruins include the ruins of St Michael’s, St Oswald and St Ann’s. Amongst the ruined buildings are the bell tower of St Ann, which was destroyed by a bomb during the war. In addition the ruined Convent of St John the Baptist was destroyed by a German bomb in September 1940.

In addition to the rebuilt St John’s Cathedral the parish of Woolston now houses the restored Coventry Cathedral. It is hoped that the restoration work will boost the dwindling tourism in the region. There is also the possibility that the remains of St Ann and St Joseph will one day be reinterred at the Cathedral for their eternal rest. Whatever the future holds for the ruins of the old cathedral, it is certain that the once beautiful Victorian century old building will once again become a striking feature on the streets of Coventry. Also check about our other service area Coventry Transport Museum