A special screening of the Illuminations/BBC4 documentary Coventry Cathedral: Building for a New Britain (broadcast on the 9 June 2021) will take place in Coventry Cathedral on Friday 17 September 2021 at 7pm.

The film chronicles how, in November 1940, German bombers destroyed much of the city centre of Coventry and reduced the city’s 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, Coventry Cathedral: Building for a New Britain tells the story of the new cathedral and of the times in which it was created.

Following the screening, we will be joined by the film’s writer and director, John Wyver, to discuss the creative processes of the film and how he reconstructed the cathedral’s story using the film and television archive. A panel of speakers will also respond to the documentary and take questions from the audience.