On 14th November 1940, the City of Coventry was devastated by a German bombing raid. The bombing left 500 dead, 2300 homes destroyed and the City’s medieval church in ruins. Historic England, working in partnership with the Poetry Society and Double Take Projections, marked the 79th anniversary of the bombing over the weekend.
A Testament to those who lost their lives…
It was a bitterly cold and rainy evening, yet thousands braved the poor conditions to commemorate those who fought to save St Michaels during the blitz. As people of all ages huddled together in the ruins, there was a hum of excitement as the creative projection artists prepared the light show. I was eager to see the Cathedral ruins being transformed into an artistic canvas, as there had been talk of the event for weeks. It is perhaps not surprising that the local community cares deeply for this hauntingly beautiful ruin, as it has proudly stood in the centre of Coventry since the 14th century.
The light show began as gently falling ash was beamed onto the historic building and I tried to imagine how the Cathedral must have looked 79 years ago. In the terror of the moment, it must have been excruciatingly painful seeing this loved historic edifice being ravaged by fire and explosives. First-hand accounts of the night tell of unprecedented depression, mass hysteria and desperation. Margaret Batten, who temporarily lost her sight after being buried in a bomb shelter, remembered Coventry as a City of lost souls. As Batten heartbreakingly describes, there was also a tangible sense of loss and hopelessness in the air. Heads bowed in remembrance and unison.
Medieval Coventry…
Suddenly, the Cathedral was bathed in brilliant blue light as the City’s prosperous medieval cloth trade began to be celebrated. Voices from Coventry’s past rang out and rousing echoes of ‘as true as Coventry blue’ reverberated through the ruins. If you are unfamiliar with Coventry’s heritage, this phrase refers to the City’s renowned medieval blue dye cloth and is often heard being muttered on the streets of Coventry! Indeed, it was one of the first things I learnt about the City’s medieval heritage.
As the City’s famous phrase clearly rang out in pride, there was a distinct feeling of togetherness among the crowd. People were smiling, joining hands and clearly starting to enjoy the show. Having only lived in Coventry since the spring term, I immediately felt warmly welcomed and accepted into the community. Despite our increasing individuality and growing political divides, the importance of community cannot be forgotten!
Hope and Resilience…
The Cathedral promptly turned into a kaleidoscope of colour, as the vivid stained-glass windows of the new Cathedral were projected onto the ruins. This image filled me with hope and awe, as it’s heart-warming to think how the City has risen from the ashes. Once war torn and ravaged, Coventry is now an inspiring and vibrant place. The powerful and spectacular light show quickly ended, yet its message will not be hastily forgotten. Young and old will remember the vibrant colours of the Cathedral, the sound of an angelic choir and the importance of joining together in remembrance. The event was a fitting tribute to those who courageously fought to save this magnificent Cathedral and I hope to see the Cathedral lit up again once more.