Going To Coventry

…although not sent there! 🙂

I’ve been enjoying watching Songs of Praise on Sunday mornings – hymns and choruses to sing along to, and inspiring stories as well. My memories of old episodes seem to be of dreary, slow hymns sung by choirs that were trained to achieve near perfection… I have no idea if that’s what they used to be, or if that’s just my flawed recollection. The episodes I’ve been watching are more recent, and the songs are sung by various congregations in the area of filming for that week. I love that! Ordinary people, of all ages and situations, belting out praises joyfully and without too much in the way of professionalism. There may be an organ playing, or a full (or partial) band. Some stand still, some raise their hands with abandon, some just do that weird shuffle thing that’s sort of in between… I don’t care. I just love seeing people share joy in praise – it feels a bit like I think heaven will be.

Recently, the show was filmed in Coventry, centring around the cathedral. Coventry was badly damaged by bombing during the Second World War, and the cathedral was nearly destroyed in 1940. The decision to rebuild was taken straight away, as a sign of faith, hope and trust for the future. The ruins of the old church remain, with the new building at right angles to the old, built from the same type of sandstone. The cathedral’s Ministry of Peace and Reconciliation provides support in areas of conflict around the world.