Old Cathedral and Church of St Michael

Stained Glass from the Haig Chapel

St Michael's Hall, new Cathedral, pre-reformation glass.

Just been looking through previous postings, particularly of the pictures and discussions about railings there or not. Would that I had the memory of Kaga, because I was obviously `there` in 1943 during WW2. I was approx 8 years old and attended the "Mayor Making" of my great uncle Alderman Alec Turner in, if I remember correctly, St Mary`s Hall. Would there have been a procession to the Cathedral?

Hello Roger, The CET can answer that. I would think so, we were already beginning to relax, the war had turned a little better, we were talking more of us invading than them invading. The railings would have gone long ago. Roger, may I ask you, try and remember your school friends then, where you went, anything about your street, you may get around to the subject you want - did you like him, and why, that sort of thing. Good luck. Kaga.

Thanks Kaga. As you say, things had subsided by then, so I suppose there wouldn`t have been the likelihood of a daylight raid, unfortunately I was evacuated to Measham at the time so was brought in for the day As for school friends, yes I remember a couple from Ashby Grammar School, one was a Scots lad Ian Peach from Cowdenbeath, another`s father owned a sawmill, went by the name of Batty, unfortunately he had short fingers, ends sawn off helping dad, and we were sent to play with the local doctor`s daughter most Saturdays. Oh and as for street, we lived in a cottage, middle of a field, 5 fields from the road. No gas, No electricity, water from pump in the yard and toilet a brick building, wooden seat/planks, two holes for bums and no flushing water. There was usually a good read of newspapers, however

Doesn't look like there was a procession Roger, but they did ring the bells

Thank you for posting that, Annewiggy, it`s brilliant. I liked the bit about the bells being rung for the first time since the start of the war. I would also guess I `crept` in as one of the children from each of the council schools in the city as my father would have been one of the teachers accompanying his school`s children. Not sure if that would have been Hen Lane or Holbrooks Junior. What about the "unexpected incident"? I didn`t fully understand from the report what went on.

Annewiggy Well that surprised me, I thought church bells were only to ring if we had an invasion. Did they get special permission, or had it been quashed by then?

Kaga. 20th April 1943 "BELLS WILL RING FOR EASTER Mr. CHURCHILL announced to-day that the War Cabinet, after receiving the advice of the Chiefs of Staff, had reviewed the question of ringing church bells in the light of changed circumstances. The existing order could now be relaxed, and church bells can be rung on Sundays and other special days in the ordinary manner. This new would brought into effect in time for the Easter celebrations."

Thank you, Annewiggy. So it did get quashed, wasn't sure of the date. Just when we thought we were safe, he started throwing Doodlebugs - that upset things again.

The early 20th century was an era of declining religious belief, yet still dominated education and rigid class distinctions, and the Cathedral still played a big part. To my family a sermon in the Old Cathedral meant... a few days before, father would not let me wear my best shoes, they had to be cleaned and polished, my clothes ironed and pressed, likewise my sister and my parents. My two other brothers did not attend, Saturday was the palaver of lugging the old tin bath in front of the lounge fire and scrubbing me from head to toe. Sunday, up very early, dressed waiting for the farmer's pony and gig, we were then driven by the son down the country roads to Bell Green (a mile). Here, we then caught the clanging, screeching tram for a further 2 or 3 miles till finally stopping in Broadgate. No scraping of toes, blow your nose before entering the Cathedral. You gaze in awe at this great building, the mighty corrugated columns soaring so high, the mighty eagle, the decorated flags, and the statues that looked frightening to a child - and oh so cold. But once the choirboys started to sing, and the flock started to sing, it became warmer and you were allowed to fidget. But no one could deny its overpowering influence and rugged beauty, and I knew father was in a another world, because every time we went, it was either a service after a pit disaster or a WWI ceremony and his mind was somewhere else. That is why the old Cathedral was so very important to old Coventrians, and why so many men cried in the church for days after.

The Sanctuary, St Michael's.

An fantastic image dating from 1721 by H Beighton. His collection of etchings will be familiar to us all. Link to the Royal Collection Trust

My family have an heirloom item, of bits of the old Cathedral stolen by father and me on the day of the King's visit. These bits are made into a stick-like object, the cone being a piece of an incendiary. My family wish to keep this item. I would have wished to given it back to the Cathedral. Between each window of the Cathedral is a buttress, that holds the walls together - the top of the buttress is a spire. There was little damage to any of these spires, that leads me to think there were no HE used, only incendiaries. The oak-wood roof with tar created a great heat that did the damage (my version).