Coventry Cathedral on Film - 3

Martin Williams, chairman of the Friends of Coventry Cathedral, will show the Barnard Reyner silent film showing the construction of the Cathedral (1950s - 1962) that the Friends arranged to be digitised - parts of which were used with permission by John Wyver who produced the BBC documentary in 2021.    This will be the first time we have shared the film with members.

BARNARD REYNER was a Coventry architect by profession, and he was an enthusiastic amateur filmmaker.   He received permission from both the Cathedral and the Laing Company to access the building site of the Cathedral with his film camera during its construction (1954 to 1962).   

The programme for Saturday's show is printed below and the first item, Film 1, was put together by Reyner in 1962 after the Consecration.  During the 1960s Reyner showed this film to various groups across the Diocese when he was invited.   We have a copy of the
script that he used to deliver in person during the showing.

Exciting finds came to light when Martin examined Reyner’s other film reels that contain the footage that he rejected.    As Martin went through them he discovered that Reyner had filmed a number of significant and historic Cathedral occasions. Films 2 to 9 are extracts from that unused Cathedral material that Martin discovered. None of them have ever been shown before.   All films are silent.   

The event on Saturday is

COVENTRY CATHEDRAL on FILM

Saturday 26th July 2024 at 2pm

John Laing Centre, Coventry Cathedral

PROGRAMME

1      Building Coventry Cathedral (45 mins)   The construction work.

2      Cutting the first sod (3.15 mins)

3      Funeral of Bishop Gorton (2.12 mins)

4      Enthronement of Bishop Bardsley (5.47 mins)

5      Foundation stone laying (7 mins)

6      Installation of Provost Williams (9.40 mins)

7      Hanging the Tapestry (3.56 mins)

8      The Fleche & Flying Angel (5.13 mins)

9      Consecration Day (16.01 mins)

This is a one-off opportunity to view historic archive films, so please share it with any one known to you who is keen on learning about our heritage.   It is an open meeting organised by the Friends of Coventry Cathedral.