As Ian had to attend a meeting, we all went with him to Coventry, where he used to be Archdeacon of the Cathedral. We had never been there before and were really looking forward to seeing the city (which is the city furthest from the sea, in Britain).
We first of all dropped Ian off and then went into the city where we visited the Motor Museum - this absolutely incredible (and free!) with three storeys of cars from the earliest to the latest, plus a simulator of the land speed record which we tried out - it was fantastic and got up to a speed of 763 mph (1,220 kph!!).
Barbara went to pick up Ian and we all met up at the Cathedral, where we had a very personal guided tour, going behind the scenes where the public aren't usually allowed. It is a very poignant place, with the old, bombed Cathedral adjacent to the new one. The stained glass windows in the new building are amazing and there was so much to see. The font is a huge stone from Jerusalem, hollowed out where the water goes. Above the High Altar is the biggest tapestry in the world (yes, it's bigger than the one in Federal Parliament House, which is the second largest).
In the Treasury are communion plate and other artefacts recovered from the bombed out building, as well as the original burnt cross, made from burnt pieces of wood which were found in the actual shape of the cross afterthe bombing. The one on display in the old ruin is a copy.
It really was a special experience, very thought provoking and moving.
