S3 Ep 4 – The crack is where the light gets in – The Very Reverend John Witcombe – Coventry Cathedral

On the night of 14 November 1940, nearly 500 Luftwaffe bombers descended on Coventry. Over the next 11 hours, they dropped more than 500 tonnes of high explosives and around 30,000 incendiary bombs on the city. By morning, 568 people had been killed, around 850 seriously injured and 43,000 homes damaged or destroyed. At the centre of it all, the medieval Cathedral of St Michael had been reduced to a roofless shell.

Rather than clear the ruins away, Coventry left them standing. Alongside them, Sir Basil Spence created an extraordinary new modernist cathedral. Together, the two buildings have become internationally recognised symbols of hope and reconciliation.

Tim and Kevin visit Coventry to meet the Very Reverend John Witcombe, who has just concluded a 13-year tenure as Dean of Coventry Cathedral.

During his time, John removed the admission charge and reconnected the cathedral with the arts, welcoming musicians including The Specials, John Grant, Beth Hart and The Libertines to perform across the cathedral precinct.

What begins as a conversation about architecture slowly unfolds into something deeper. This is a conversation we all need right now.

To keep up to date with event at the Cathedral, follow their Instagram at
@coventry_cathedral_events

To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure
And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)
We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.com
Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
Guest: The Very Reverend John Witcombe
Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.
Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.