Coventry Cathedral's destruction in the early, darkest days of the Second World War captured the imagination of the World. Its rebuilding in the 1950s and 1960s caused many artists, sculptors and composers to create works of art to adorn the new Cathedral seen as a place of rebirth and new hope.

In the very early church Christians did not use the Cross as a symbol but it quickly became a symbol of Christ’s triumph over death and is used as a reminder of that sacrifice he endured for us all. The Cross at the beginning of a procession shows that the Church is called to follow the example of Christ’s Cross. It is a visual reminder of the gospel account of our Lord’s crucifixion for us, and the centrality of that theme to our worship. Without the cross there would have been no Easter Day!

The new Cathedral designed by Sir Basil Spence has a plain people's altar. Altar frontals are not used and so the Robes and Processional Crosses are used to denote the liturgical seasons of the Church.

Sir Basil Spence succeeded in creating a very dramatic space for worship. It is a large cavernous building which requires drama and spectacle for the central actions within a service to link with people in the Nave, particularly those who may be sitting very near the back of the Cathedral. The Servers use the Crosses, Candles and the Banners of the See of Coventry to enhance that drama and spectacle, almost as 'moving architecture' as someone once described it. I understand the gentleman was referring to the Cross and Candles and not inferring that the larger members of the team were so large as to represent architectural features!

The Great Cross

 The Great Cross is 40lb in weight the staff being solid silver, decorated with tiny crosses of nails. The Cross itself is perspex, a new material in the 1950s, and inserted in it in gold and silver are the representations of the four beasts of the Revelation, and St Michael. The Great Cross is used on special occasions and at all services during the seasons of Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost and Trinity.

The Cross of Nails

The Cross of Nails is used to symbolise the Cathedral's dedication and work toward reconciliation throughout the world. Three medieval nails were taken from the roof timbers of the destroyed cathedral and made into a Cross; this Cross became the symbol of the new Cathedral. One of these can be seen in the High Altar Cross. This processional cross has three of those nails coated in silver, mounted on a staff around which is a silver representation of the Crown of Thorns.

The nails are seen as representing the nails used to crucify Christ and his suffering with the world. This Cross is used at services during the penitential seasons of Lent and Advent. At the Cathedral we also use it throughout November, the month in which the anniversary of the bombing takes place, and in which we have Remembrance Sunday, and All Souls Day. The Cross is also used at services dedicated to the work of reconciliation or services aimed at assisting people with healing after painful events. Such services include services for the victims of road accidents, the Remember Our Child services for bereaved parents; and services such as the service celebrating the work of the Corrymeela community working for reconciliation between the communities in Ireland.

The Cross of Nails is also used on Civic occasions such as the Godiva Procession each June, and recently was used to lead the Civic Party to a rostrum in Coventry's central square for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the bombing of City and Cathedral. The City and Cathedral have a common history and it is always moving to see this symbol of the Cathedral at civic events, taking the story of Christ’s suffering for humanity into the secular world.

Processional Candles

The Processional Candles are carried on wooden staffs topped by metal candleholders resembling pottery but also with an industrial look befitting a city with a long and proud industrial history. The candles used are not wax candles, but oil filled candles similar to those used on the altar. The Candles represent the light of Christ; they are carried in procession, and used to lead the clergy to the points in the Cathedral where the Communion is distributed.

The Banners of the See of Coventry

The Banners are used whenever the Lord Bishop of Coventry is present at the Cathedral except during Lent and Holy Week, or more informal occasions. They are very tall and dramatic having silver coloured Mercian crosses on a red background. At the end of a service the Banners will flank the Bishop as he gives a blessing to the Congregation and help to build a sense of dramatic climax to a service.