than meets the eye. Have you ever wondered why there are gravestones left next to the university's
students union building? Well this is because they are on hallowed ground and by law cannot be removed.
They belong to St Michael's church, which unfortunately stands in ruins after the coventry blitz of november 1940.As the ruins of the old cathedral are hallowed ground, they are listed as Grade A, therefore the ruins and any property connected to them, including the gravestones, are not allowed to be moved.
Coventry University History student Ross Armstrong had to study coventry's history as part of his course:
"The presense of the cathedral ruins and gravestones are a daily reminder to students of Coventry's long history and of the important place it has had in England historicaly. "
There have been three cathedrals in coventry over the past 1000 years. The first was the 12th century Prioy Church of St Mary, the second was the medieval parish church cathedral of St Michael and finaly the last and present day cathedral,also named St Michael.
After the first cathedral fell into decay due to the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, Coventry didn't have a cathedral until the modern diocese of Coventry was created and St Michaels Church was designated as a Cathedral.However it is well known that in 1940 the cathedral was bombed.
The Cathedrals website states that:
"The decision to rebuild the cathedral was taken the morning after its destruction. Rebuilding would not be an act of defiance, but rather a sign of faith, trust and hope for the future of the world."
Coventry University should be proud that they share their campus with such a historical place of worship.
Photo by Amanda B. H. Slater
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