NEW COVENTRY CATHEDRAL

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 2

NEW COVENTRY CATHEDRAL

CONTROVERSY OVER DESIGN (N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) LONDON, August 26. Churchgoers all over Britain have been expressing strong opposition to the plans accepted for Coventry s new £BOO,OOO cathedral, which they call a “push-button cathedral,” “monstrous, “like a cinema,” and a nightmare.” All the critics dislike its flat roof, zig-zag walls, and glass disappearing” screen. The criticism, however, has not daunted the architect, Mr Basil Spence, who is making special scale models of the interior and the exterior for public display, or the three famous architects who chose the design. But, before building licences can be sought, the plans have to be passed by the cathedral reconstruction committee, 44 members of the Council of Churchmen and the laity who govern the cathedral, and the joint council or Free Church representatives who are interested in the Chapel of Unity which will form part of the building. The reconstruction committee will meet in mid-September, and when it has reached a decision the other two bodies will consider their verdict. Mr Spence said that he had received scores of letters from architects all over the country, and not one had any hostile criticism. "Of course, there are some abusive letters from people who think that I have designed anything but a cathedral,” he said. “None of these people, however, appears to have constructive ideas of any kind. This is the kind of thing one must expect if one designs something such as has never been seen before. When St. Paul's Cathedral was built it must have been strange and weird to the eyes of that generation.” Plan Could Be. Abandoned

The reconstruction committee secretary (Mr N. T. Thurston) said that if public opinion against the design was a enough the committee could on the plan. On the other hand, he did not think that the committee would pay much attention to public opinion. The critics include several Coventry clergymen. "This thing is a horror,” said the Rev. H. N. M. Artus. “It appears to be one more super cinema, mammoth insurance office, or even a block of flats. Will the organist sink from sight, cinema fashion, at the conclusion of divine service? Will chromium-plated slot machines supply the congregation with hymn books in exchange for a nickel? Or will the cathedral have its.music recorded on a sound track?” • Canon F. W. Clitheroe called the cathedral a “modern monstrosity and a vast extravagance.” The design, he said, was a great shock to many Coventry people. In favour are Coventry's Mayor (Cr. Harry Weston), its Provost (the Rev. Richard Howard), and the City Chamberlain (Mr J. B. Shelton). Mr Weston said he was sure that when the new cathedral rose the people would feel its majesty and beauty more every time they saw it.