The Story of Coventry

Coventry is a city outside of London, England, and home to the Coventry Cathedral, the current headquarters of CCN's international presence. During World War II, Coventry, like many other places in England, was subject to bombing raids by the Axis Powers. In the midst of the terror, the blessed Coventry Cathedral succumbed to devastating destruction.

The very next day after the bombing, as British officials and clergy assessed the damages, one clergyman of the Cathedral decided to take three giant nails from the rubble and form a cross shape with them. This figure or symbol would be the center piece of the altar in what would be the newly reconstructed building. And beyond that, this idea of reconstructing the Cathedral combined with taking the wreckage and starting anew helped underscore the struggle for forgiveness and reconciliation with England's enemies. Over the succeeding sixty years, the path of reconciliation between races, genders, nationalities and other forms would be cleared in the wake of the Cathedral's rebuilding.

But far more important than the reconstruction of the building was the establishment of a dynamic, experimental twenty-first century ministry among people with reconciliation at its heart.

CCN is the world-wide expression of this vision. Read the CCN Bulletins for updates about the work of the International Community of the Cross of Nails and The International Centre of Reconciliation, Coventry, UK.

Letter from ICR Director, Canon Dr Stephen Davis, 10/10/05

Coventry International Centre
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