COVENTRY CATHEDRAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 5

COVENTRY CATHEDRAL

CHRISTIAN CENTRE PLAN ANCIENT PRACTICE REVIVED LONDON, Feb. 7. A courageous reversal to ancient practice is linked in the plans announced for the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral, which was destroyed by German bombs. It is proposed to build as an essential part of the scheme a Christian centre of service for the whole community, in full partnership with the Free Churches, the centre to be connected with the cathedral by a special Chapel of Unity belonging to the Anglicans and Free Churches together. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, a Roman Catholic, who planned the Anglican Cathedral at Liverpool, designed Coventry’s new cathedral around a central altar which can be approached by the congregation from all sides. Central altars have not been used by the Church of England for more than 300 years. Altars in the early Christian churches were placed like those of the Hebrews, so that the congregation could surround them, but in the Middle Ages were placed against the east wall.

The Coventry Cathedral Council and the Free Church Federal Council have approved the scheme. The Bishop of Coventry, Dr Neville Gorton, in a statement said: “ Eighty per cent, of the citizens of Coventry are not members of the. Church or Chapel. We just cannot tackle this 80 per cent, outside the Christian churches in isolation. This is our response to the challenge to Christians to form a united front. “The cathedral services will be conducted according to the ritual of the Church of England, but special services will be held to which Free Church members are to be invited. The Free Churches will each send two members to the committee directing the Christian centre, which will participate actively in all phases of Coventry life, including health, learning and recreation, as well as religion.” ’ Dr Gorton, referring to the central altar, said: “This is not a ‘crank’ idea. The altar does not belong only to the clergy, but also to the people. Therefore, set it in the middle of the church and let the people gather round." The Daily Mail in a leading article says: “This may be the germ of one of the biggest religious movements for 300 years. Religion is only half alive in Britain. People who twice in a generation have shared a great common peril are in no mood to erect fences around their churches. Thev prefer not to go.” •