Echoes of a Forgotten Glory: The Story of Coventry’s First Cathedral

When I think of Coventry, two iconic things come to mind: Lady Godiva and Coventry Cathedral. Visiting the Cathedral is a must if you want to truly experience Coventry’s rich history. But it’s not just one Cathedral—there are actually three, each from a different era. The earliest dates back to the 11th century, the second was built in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, and the third in the 20th century. Rather than covering all three in one article, I’ll explore each individually, along with a few related structures, in separate posts on my blog.

Let’s begin with the first Cathedral.

Coventry’s recorded history starts in 1016, when King Canute’s army destroyed the Saxon nunnery believed to have been founded by St. Osburg in the 700s CE. In 1043, Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his wife Lady Godiva rebuilt the nunnery into a Benedictine monastery dedicated to St. Mary, which housed an abbot and 24 monks. (I’ve written more about Lady Godiva in a previous article, which you can find here.)

Around 1095, Bishop Robert de Limesey moved his see to Coventry, and by 1102, Papal approval transformed St. Mary’s into a priory and cathedral. The rebuilding and expansion of the Cathedral took around 125 years to complete. By the mid-13th century, it was a grand structure, with numerous large outbuildings.

The Cathedral itself was cruciform, 425 feet (130 meters) tall and 145 feet (44 meters) wide at its western front. It was constructed in two phases between 1102 CE and the mid-13th century. It featured a central tower and two western towers, the remains of which can still be seen today. The Cathedral likely had three spires, similar to the ones at Lichfield Cathedral, but predating them.

This medieval cathedral survived until the Reformation, when it became a victim of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 CE. St. Mary's was the only Cathedral in England deliberately destroyed, leaving behind just a few ruins from what was once a monumental building.

Today, what once stood as a grand and sacred site is now reduced to scattered stones and remnants, a haunting reminder of the past. Walking through the ruins, it’s hard not to feel a deep sense of loss for the history, culture, and craftsmanship that were dismantled centuries ago. What were once towering spires and majestic walls are now mere fragments, silent witnesses to the grandeur that Coventry once held. These ruins, though broken, still tell the story of a glorious past that shaped the city's soul.

Happy travelling.