Changing the Face of Coventry
Seventy years after the bombing, the ruins of the former Cathedral Church of St Michael, Coventry have begun to crack open and urgent help is needed to repair the fabric. The loss of the ruins is inconceivable, which led to their inclusion on the 2012 World Monuments Watch of the world’s most imperilled historic sites.
The atmospheric medieval ruins have become a spiritual beacon for the nation and an important landmark for the community. World Monuments Fund is now working in partnership with Coventry Cathedral to safeguard and reinvigorate this evocative place.
The project will protect the ruins, open the crypts beneath and display the faces in beautiful salvaged stained glass. Repairing, replanning and optimising the ancient fabric of the Cathedral Quarter will see that its character is restored and enhanced for a better future.
Urgent stabilisation works to prevent collapse
Phase 1 Target: £502,079
The need for preventative conservation has been highlighted recently by a large crack which has appeared in the south-west corner of the ruin. Since then the results of a five-yearly investigation into the condition of the ruins has confirmed that urgent repairs are needed in several areas to prevent further deterioration of the structure.
The first phase of these vital repairs is focused on these areas; work will include repairing crumbled masonry, providing coping to wall-caps and re-routing drainage. The cost of doing this is £502,079.
A Vision for the Future
Phase 1 Target: £43,093
To realise our vision, wide consultation needs to take place on how the ruins can be best conserved and how the space can be transformed. This will lead to a comprehensive Conservation Management Plan. This is essential if future phases of the project are to happen.
The project has received the generous early support of an anonymous donor towards leaving an additional £43,093 to be raised.
Unveiling Hidden Treasures
Phase 1 Target: £200,000
Coventry Cathedral is home to an amazing collection of medieval glass dating from the 15th century. This rare collection is thought to be the work of the city’s renowned medieval glass artist John Thornton. It reveals the faces of Coventry’s medieval forebears and gives a stunning insight into the incredible skill used in the making of stained glass.
TOTAL PHASE 1 Target £745,172
The second phase of this scheme will focus on completing the programme of urgent repairs and revealing the hidden secrets of the crypt chapels beneath the ruins. Overall, we need £2million to complete these first two phases.
