Coventry Pilgrimage

May 22-25 I had the privilege of attending the Cross of Nails Pilgrimage on Reconciliation.  This pilgrimage is offered twice a year, in the fall and spring. Ever since we visited Coventry Cathedral on our Parish Anglican Heritage Pilgrimage, I wanted to learn more about their history and their ministry on reconciliation.

Coventry cathedral was bombed in November 1940 and when the provost (aka Dean of the cathedral) came out the next morning to survey the damage he saw the cathedral in ruin, the city in shambles. It is out of this destruction that their ministry of reconciliation was born. Provost Howard left the ruins of the cathedral and the words “Father Forgive” behind the altar with the two roof beams in from of the altar that fell in the shape of the cross. Since then the cathedral has focused on how do we learn from history, heal those wounds, and build a culture of peace. The Community of the Cross of Nails was birthed from this ministry and helps to provide the words in prayer and action to facilitate dialogue and prayer amongst neighbors and communities.

Our group of pilgrims was diverse, 2 from South Africa, 6 from Southampton, England, 3 from Liverpool, England, 1 from Belgium, 1 from London, and 2 from North American (me and a Canadian!). Our reconciliation ministry team was comprised of the Canon for Reconciliation, the program director and then three interns (1 American, 1 German, and 1 Brit)... we gathered and shared our stories, listened to where the reconciliation was needed and discerned our own paths. It was a prayerful week together full of sharing, laughter, and inspiration.