Coventry Cathedral: Building for a New Britain

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Pauline Black

Todd Macdonald

John Wyver

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

BBC Four - Coventry Cathedral: Building for a New Britain

The story of the 1962 rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral after its destruction in WWII.

The story of Coventry’s new cathedral and of the times in which it was built. Designed by Basil Spence and consecrated in 1962, the original was destroyed by German bombers during World War II.

In November 1940, German bombers destroyed much of the city centre of Coventry and reduced the city’s medieval cathedral to rubble. Just 22 years later, in May 1962, a new cathedral designed by Basil Spence was consecrated on the site. Built in a bold modern style, incorporating the ruins of the old cathedral and adorned with a wealth of modern artworks, Coventry Cathedral is recognised today as one of Britain ‘s greatest postwar buildings.

Using a wealth of rarely seen archive film, together with voices from yesterday and today, the film tells the story of the new cathedral and of the times in which it was created.

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