The Friends were delighted to receive a generous legacy of £1,000 from Mrs. (Eileen) Joan Kell. She was one of the first Friends and a volunteer guide for 25 years. In response to her gift, Chairman Andrew Paine wrote a let- ter of thanks. The Friends sent a Coventry Rose in grateful trib- JANUARY 2013 ute. Her son Dennis wrote in reply that it will be “a special reminder of my mother, the Cathedral and all the interwoven Patrons history and memories they create. It is a lovely gesture for Her Majesty’s Lords Lieutenant which we most sincerely thank The Friends.” of West Midlands and Warwickshire President JOHN WILLIS, The Lord Bishop of Coventry A VERY WARM WELCOME The success of “Journey Into The Light” - the 2012 Cathe- dral Golden Jubilee Art Exhibition exceeded all expectations, Vice - Presidents creating an influx of additional visitors and producing plaudits The Bishop of Warwick, Heather Wallace, Barry Greener from art critics and art organisations alike. It was the inspired Barbara Mobbs, Prof Louise Campbell, Shirley Willis TO OUR NEW DEAN AND... vision of John Willis, a former Chairman of the Friends, who was the principal curator. Sadly in the weeks before the exhi- Friends Council Andrew Paine (Chair) bition opened, his health deteriorated and he died shortly af- Mike Stansbie (Vice Chair) terwards, without having the opportunity to see the results of Andrew Williams (Treasurer) his efforts. Gill Brooke (Membership Secretary) John was born in Kent and came to Coventry in 1961 to Rodney Bashford, Jane Corrigan. Richard Chamberlaine-Brothers start a degree course in Applied Chemistry at the Lanchester Jonathan Evans, Jain Galliford, Ted Hiscocks, Brenda Stokes College. He worked at Courtaulds and Rootes and ended his David Williams, Martin Williams career as Head of Purchasing at Peugeot. On his retirement aged 59, he achieved first class honours in Historical Studies New Members since September 2012 at the University of Warwick, and went on to attain a research Masters Degree in the History of Art. John met Shirley in 1962 Honorary Life and they married in 1964. When Shirley joined the Cathedral Patrick Reyntiens, John Reyntiens staff in 1989 John started his links with the Cathedral. His lin- guistic skills (he spoke four languages) made him useful in in- Life Dr Sarah Collins, Dr Ian Hosier terpreting the building for foreign delegations. Jim and Margaret Rushton, Ian and Susan Thompson John was Chairman of the Friends of Coventry Cathedral for nine years from 1995. More recently he was Vice-Chairman Annual of the Cathedral’s Fine Arts Committee. John was part of the Rodney Bashford, Naomi Bowen, Dr Mary Charlton .........OUR NEW ARCHBISHOP editorial group and a contributor to the Cathedral’s “Reconcil- Keith Corrigan, Prof Richard and Allison Farnell ing People” – another successful venture sponsored by the Mr and Mrs Michael Green, Peter Lawrence, Robert Longstaff Friends in 2012. Sandra Newton, Ian Marshall, Philomena Sullivan In a centre-page spread for this first issue of the New The Friends were among the first to congratulate the In “Journey Into The Light” John’s dream was to create a fit- Year, our new Dean John Witcombe speaks exclusively Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Justin Welby, ting tribute to the artists who created our wonderful Cathedral. RIP In doing so he helped others to follow their personal Journey Brenda Barley, Eileen Joan Kell, P G Malins to the Friends about his vision, hopes and concerns for former Sub-Dean of Coventry, on his appointment as Into The Light - just as his own journey came to an end. Peter Norman, John Willis the Cathedral and tells us about his family and his in- the Archbishop of Canterbury. His P.A. replied to our Canon Martin Williams terests. Chairman Andrew thanking him for his good wishes PETER NORMAN Passionate about the Anglican tradition and the Church and for the offer to present Bishop Justin with a limited Peter and Pam moved from Crewe to Coventry in 1974 and in the following year joined Saint Michael’s Singers. At that time of England in particular, he is looking forward to de- edition copy of “Reconciling People” - Coventry the Singers had just begun a liaison with the Caen Chamber Orchestra in Normandy. Since both of them were committed Fran- cophiles here was a perfect match – singing combined with an annual trip to France. The Singers were equally delighted to have veloping the relationship between the Cathedral and Cathedral’s Story”. It is an offer he is “delighted to ac- discovered not only two new friends, an excellent soprano and tenor, but also a professional accountant! the diocese in Coventry. cept”. The special copy will be presented during the As Treasurer of Saint Michael’s Singers since 1976 Peter was a totally dedicated and meticulous custodian of the Society’s fi- If you want to learn even more, we suspect his diary is Faith in Conflict Conference in Coventry during Feb- nances. It is thanks to Peter’s diligence that the choir’s finances remained in a solidly healthy state throughout his tenure. A committee member remembers standing with Peter and looking up the Nave towards the Tapestry. The building was totally not yet overcrowded with dinner party invitations, but ruary 2013. silent. "Isn't it such a privilege to be here; aren't we blessed?" and we truly were. Thinking about that moment again has brought don’t leave it too late! Canon Kenyon Wright pays tribute to Justin - page 2 tears to my eyes, because I know that Peter truly felt the honour of being involved at the Cathedral.” Graham Warren 8 1 THE CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN “Coventry – Cathedral of Peace” A CHALLENGE TO COVENTRY TO CREATE A CATHEDRAL QUARTER In my book I have tried to convey something of the debt I owe We all need friends to others, and the gratitude and exhilaration I felt at being called One of the things life teaches us, Speaking to a capacity audience of Friends in the Cathedral to share in the two “unique” aspects of ministry of the Cathedral. is that we all need friends. Lecture Hall last month, Dr Jonathan Foyle, Chief Executive of The international ministry was given to us by the events of the World Monuments Fund (WMF) Britain, said that ‘he had a history – by the inspired response which discerned God’s call in The Friends of Coventry Cathedral high regard for Coventry’, but that ‘it continued to ignore its glo- these events. However, that global outreach was rooted, and are there in the big moments, and rious heritage and greatest assets’. given its full meaning, in a team ministry, held together by hon- provide support in the difficult Since its Watch listing in 2012, WMF has secured over esty, affection and regular sharing. History can never be re- moments, in the life of this sacred £350,000, to repair more of the crumbling Ruins of the Old peated, but perhaps Justin Welby has said more clearly what I and “extraordinary place - whose Cathedral, to fund the development of a Tourism and Manage- tried to identify in this book, namely the changed world in which story we can’t ignore”. Andrew Paine ment plan for the Hilltop and to enable the conservation of Coventry has still a unique opportunity. Shortly before the an- Britain’s largest collection of loose medieval glass. nouncement of his elevation, I received a lecture he gave in Brief Encounter ‘What we need’, he said, ‘is a compelling narrative to tell the Zurich on 26 October to a gathering of the Gnomes ! He called Amici at Berkswell If you had a few minutes on a station platform, in a lift, or at story of Coventry’s central role in British history. Don’t let’s talk it “Repair or Replace – Where do we start among the ruins?”, and a party, to invite someone to become a Friend, what would about the City Centre, but the Cathedral Quarter. Our percep- used the story of Coventry and the nature of the Cathedral’s re- you say? It’s the ‘brief encounter’ moment. tion is immediately changed by the name. During the 14th and sponse as a lesson for a global society and economy in ruins. He There are probably three or four things you could say. 15th Centuries Coventry was Britain’s fourth City (after London, AMICI (the Latin word for “Friends”) is an informal said “The question we need to ask is ‘what can finance do to be York and Bristol) and at the heart of Lancastrian lands and power group of singers founded in 2009, under the direction of Cathe- socially useful’?. In the same way as the ruins of Coventry Cathe- Firstly, Coventry Cathedral is a quite extraordinary place. and adjacent to the great the Castles of Warwick and Kenilworth’. dral Organist Kerry Beaumont. Some of the singers are members dral were turned from a hideous symbol of destruction to a sym- The only English City with three Cathedrals. The great Priory ‘Coventry is the only city in the country to have three Cathe- of the Cathedral’s various choirs and other singers are, or have bol of hope, of resurrection. of peace and a new form of Church of St Mary, the only Cathedral demolished during the drals’. ‘The Parish Church of St Michael was the largest, by area been, connected with the Cathedral. One member, who used to civilisation, so finance can move from being the wreckage of a Tudor Dissolution of the Monasteries. The Medieval St and had the tallest spire, in England.