1934 - an unremarkable year.

by Peter Woodward, 5 Jan 2009. Archived.

1934 was an unremarkable year.  Some years shout out from the pages of our history books for different reasons. 1066, 1666, 1812, 1939, 1962, 1966 … But 1934 does not. 

George V was on the throne.  Ramsey McDonald was Prime Minister.  Bonnie and Clyde were gunned down in Louisiana.  The Loch Ness Monster was photographed.  The arts world mourned the passing of Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst, Fredrick Delius and was blissfully unaware of a rash of births that would blossom into a generation of artistic talent;  Alan Bennett, Judi Dench, Roy Kinnear, Maggie Smith, Timothy West, Marty Feldman and Peter Maxwell Davies - all born in 1934.  Mervyn Haig was Bishop of Coventry and Richard (Dick) Howard was Provost of Coventry Cathedral.  Oh and one Adolph Hitler became Fuhrer of Germany, becoming Head of State as well as Chancellor.  In 1934 The Friends of Coventry Cathedral was formed.

The Friends was established with much impetus from the Diocese following a trend among other Cathedrals that started with Canterbury in 1927.  The first Annual Meeting was held on Michaelmas Day 1934 in St Mary’s Hall. 

The stated aims of the Friends were two-fold; “The first is to bind together all those who love Coventry Cathedral and to bring others to appreciate and enjoy it.  The second is to help the Cathedral authorities to preserve it for posterity, with its beauties unimpaired and enriched”.

The Friends membership brochure spoke so eloquently;  “Coventry Cathedral ranks among the noblest examples of perpendicular style in architecture which is peculiar to this country.  Its supreme beauty and grandeur compel the immediate admiration of all who visit it.”

Little did the founding fathers of the Friends know how quickly their vision would be dramatically and quite literally blown off course. Two dates, Thursday 14^th November 1940 and Friday 25^th May 1962 remain etched in the collective memory of all those associated with Coventry Cathedral. 

Back in 1934 Bishop Haig suggested that all 50,000 people on the electoral rolls of the Diocese become Friends!  In reality initial membership numbered just 200.  Despite the extraordinary enriching twist to the Cathedral’s history, there has been a gradual decline in membership from a high watermark of 1,552 in 1963 down to less than 300 by 2007. 

However I would like to belive that an important new chapter in the history of the Friends is now being written.   2008 witnessed the first significant uplift in membership since 1963.  75 new members have joined in the last six months alone.  What an appropriate number as we enter our 75^th Anniversary Year! 

My personal hope is that we will see a further blossoming of interest and membership in the Friends.  The Cathedral needs and deserves a vibrant Friends both to honour and care for our heritage and to support a vibrant living ministry into the future.  We are putting together a lively programme of events including a grand celebration for the Michaelmas weekend in 2009.  Watch this space for details.

On a broader note, I wonder how 2009 will be described in 75 years time;  remarkable?  unremarkable?

Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne, Gordon Brown was Prime Minister.  Barack Obama became President of the United States.  A global recession began to bite, conflict in Gaza intensified.  Christopher Cocksworth was Bishop of Coventry.  John Irvine was Dean.  And The Friends of Coventry Cathedral……. well, we’ll have to wait and see!

Peter Woodward

Chairman, Friends of Coventry Cathedral