For those of you who have been following this blog for a while, will know that I have along term project of photographing the UK’s Anglican Cathedrals, on Ilford’s XP2. As this was my first visit to Coventry I couldn’t miss the Cathedral so make a visit.
I was tempted to say, and my initial impression was, that the Cathedral was a bit dull! I don’t mean architecturally, there is much of interest, like a large chunk of the rest of Coventry, it’s a bit 1950’s concrete brutal, but interesting none the less. Neither is the use of light dull. The whole end wall is completely glass, and engraved with angels (above right). I have to say they reminded me more of the Aliens at the end of A.I. but perhaps that says more about me!! There is also some lovely use of coloured glass, (above centre). I think this image translates to B/W ok, but more on that in another post! Even the walls at the altar end are punctuated (above left), but somehow, the light seems flat and dull. I did indeed visit on a dull day, but somehow I think even if the sun were blazing, it wouldn’t have been different.
The Chapel of Christ the Servant above is in my view a complete success. Simple elegant, dare I say, light. The idea is it “allows those inside and in worship, to see the world outside and be part of it” – tick, yes it does indeed. The view, (bottom right) is mostly of university buildings, built on the ruins of a once industrial landscape destroyed in the second world war.
I also enjoyed the much smaller Chapel of Gethsemane. Here both a little natural light and a couple of spotlights, which even the Cathedrals guide describes as “relatively little lighting”, all falls on the golden mosaic (the Angel of Agony by Steven Sykes) and I’m sure by design, reflects the light illuminating the rest of the chapel in a golden glow. As one approaches, it’s viewed through the wrought-iron crown of thorns.
Finally the font is a boulder of stone, taken from the hills near Bethlehem, with a simple bowl scooped out of it, in the shape of a scallop shell.
At the time I visited, a crew were setting up for a Radiohead concert! Not a regular occurrence in a cathedral – but then Coventry isn’t a regular Cathedral. Perhaps the point of modern (!) architecture or indeed Cathedrals is to make us think, reflect, and experience something different? Coventry Cathedral did all of the above, and I look forward to my next visit.
S.H.O.U.T. 