Phoenix at Coventry: the Building of a Cathedral

by Basil Spence

Few large buildings since the war have attracted more criticism, well - or ill - judged, than Coventry Cathedral. The first Cathedral Church of St. Michael was built at he time of the Norman Conquest: the second was destroyed by German bombs in 1940. Sir Basil Spence's conception is the third to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes; and most people now agree that the selection of so imaginative an architect was indeed right. Here he tells the story of why he had always wanted to build a cathedral above everything else; of the influences and experiences that moulded his thought, of the competition in his submitted design faced and the struggles he faced after winning.

141 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist style.

Spence was born in Bombay, India. He was educated at the John Connon School, operated by the Bombay Scottish Education Society, and was then sent back to Scotland to attend George Watson's College in Edinburgh from 1919–1925. He enrolled at Edinburgh College of Art to study architecture in 1925.

Reviews

[Pollymoore3]

I love this story that he tells, of a time when he was showing the design before it was built: "A tall formidable lady.... said, 'Young man... what is the meaning of that radio pylon on the roof of your building?' 'That, ma'am, is a fleche.' She looked puzzled so I added, 'A fleche is a spire-like structure that in many countries, especially in France, is seen on the crossings of the great cathedrals.' She was not satisfied. Pointing at it, she said loudly, 'I advise you to remove that radio pylon. What use is it, anyhow?' A crowd had collected by now, so I drew myself up to my full height and answered, 'Ma'am, it is there to receive the messages from Heaven.'

[Esther]

Picked up the 1962 edition, on sale at the local studies archive centre which I walked past after visiting this epic place. One of the finest pieces of post war British architecture. This book, by the architect has all the background detail and wonderful anecdotes from so many of the artists involved, Sutherland, Epstein and John Piper to name but a few.

[Adrian M]

Despite the heroic tone, Spence writes with playful charm. Full of genuinely interesting anecdotes and trivia which show the human side of Coventry Cathedral’s (nightmarishly bureaucratic) story.