Coventry - St Michael's Cathedral

A tall, canopied porch on the north side links the old cathedral ruins with the modern St Michael's Cathedral, designed by Sir Basil Spence and erected between 1956 and 1962. At the southeast end, on the outer wall of the nave, to the right of the entrance, is a bronze by Jacob Epstein, "St Michael subduing the Devil". The nave itself, 420ft/128m long and orientated north-south, can seat a congregation of 2,000. The walls are built in zigzag fashion, the offset concrete panels alternating with windows facing towards the altar. The vast concrete ceiling is broken up by the diamond pattern of its ribs. Taking the place of the usual west end is a huge glass screen, engraved with figures of angels, saints and patriarchs by John Hutton. Its effect is to create a striking visual link both with the old cathedral ruins and the people going about their business in the streets of the town. Another most impressive feature of the interior is the baptistery, with a font hewn from a rough stone block brought from Bethlehem, and a great stained glass window, the Sunburst Window, by John Piper, centered on the radiant sun which symbolizes the Holy Ghost. The ten stained glass panels in the walls of the nave, designed by Lawrence Lee, Geoffrey Clark and Keith New, are set at an angle so as to be fully visible only from the Choir. In their spectrum of colors, from yellow through red to blue and violet, they symbolize the journey of man from birth through death to resurrection. Geoffrey Clarke's "Cross of Nails" behind the altar is made out of three medieval nails from the ruined cathedral, yet another powerful symbol, this time of reconciliation. At the north end hangs a huge tapestry (75 x 38ft/23m x 11.6m) in glowing color showing Christ in Glory surrounded by four beasts mentioned in the Revelation of St John. Designed by Graham Sutherland, it was woven near Aubusson in France.

The Chapel of Unity is intended to represent accord between the Church of England and the Free Churches. The mosaic floor was a gift from the Church of Sweden; the stained glass windows came from Germany.