Coventry-Inspired Peace and Reconciliation

Cross of Nails

Before lockdowns and isolation and staying at home took over our approach to 2020 I had the opportunity to visit Coventry with the family. We had been keen for some time to pay a visit to the Herbert Art Gallery, and finally had a free Saturday and decided that the day out could include a visit to the Cathedral ruins as neither myself nor my husband had ever been there.

It was a gloriously sunny February day and the long shadows showed the Cathedral ruins in a majestic light. The boys ran off to climb and play and explore whilst I paid attention to the sculptures and the information about the history of the site. Within the first few minutes my spine was tingling as I read about the message of peace that Coventry stood for. All I knew was that it had been bombed in the Second World War. I had never been told about its profound reaching out with forgiveness and that it continued to send out this message of hope across the world from then until now. The 'Father Forgive' lettering glistened in the sunlight and my heart leapt with joy on reading it and understanding how powerful this message of reconciliation between people, between nations was and continues to be.

We then popped into the miniature museum and as we walked further along discovered the treasure in the last room that told of the unique 'Cross of Nails' that emerged from the debris as a symbol of faith; love; hope. To have turned this terrifying and destructive moment of war into this symbolism was very powerful and very inspiring.

We finally pulled ourselves away and into The Herbert and was so pleased that they had an exhibit also dedicated to the message of Peace and Reconciliation. We found ourselves looking at historic items of violence and the opportunities to turn towards peace.

Afterwards we walked back via the ruins and the new Cathedral and, as the kids begged for another look, I took the opportunity to visit the new building childfree. Wowed by the Baptistry and standing in awe of the artwork and space I spied a small door over to the left and nipped in quickly to see what lay beyond.

The 'Chapel of Unity' was through the door. Its heavenly cross suspended in the middle of the room with it's high walls stripped with coloured glass and the invitation to prayer was a breathtaking delight. It's here that I sourced the Pax Christi leaflet that pushed a button within me to find out more and to be more engaged. Having studied in Northern Ireland when the Good Friday Agreement was put in place and the first elections happened I had over the years kept an eye on peace and conflict stories and issues. I was an interested, but passive, player.

Away from work I volunteer as a school governor and happened to be in one of our schools - St Gregory's Catholic Primary in Northampton - that week with the Executive Head and RE lead, Kirstie and Steph. After the meeting I recalled the events of the weekend and shared how much I had found in Coventry and the message of forgiveness and the prayer chapel and excitedly asked how we could plan a school visit perhaps? Our Head is a Coventrinarian and I enquired did she know much more about the message from Coventry? Were the people of Coventry particularly affected by the extraordinary reaction of peace?

Kirstie's response was unexpected and deeply personal. After the war, when Coventry reached out with the message of forgiveness and talked of peace rather than retribution, and spoke of love instead of using words of hate, and from the destruction produced the cross made of nails to show faith, her aunt - living in Scotland - was so moved by this action took herself down to Coventry to acquire one of these crosses. Kirstie had been entrusted with this cross, and this living piece of history is in fact in her possession. I sat open mouthed at this news, and she took time to tell us of the intimate relationship she has with the Cross of Nails and as a former history student understands it's importance and intends to entrust it to her daughter as an important legacy.

Since that day in the school office energy to connect with Coventry's message in a tangible and spiritual way has moved us to create and develop something within the school. Our RE lead, Steph, had ideas of further utilising the prayer garden and transforming it into a Garden of Peace and Reconciliation. One of the ideas centred on making the Sacrament of Reconciliation available in this space and, had we known then what we know now after watching our churches close their doors and the Sacraments becoming inaccessible, we could hardly have imagined that taking it outdoors would have such significance or indeed need.

Unfortunately our Lenten plans to take the Ethos team to the Chapel for prayer has yet to be realised but we have begun the process of changing the garden and bringing into the school a direct message of Peace that has linked well with the Laudato Si' initiative and Livesimply, that has also started with a link to the local parish. An open air confessional space and a Rosary walk are some of the additions taking shape as we continue to impart to the pupils the Gospel values of contemplation, prayer and nonviolence in our relationship conflicts, and support their access to the Sacraments. It is hoped that the space can be used by the St Gregory's whole school community and that it will inspire others to embrace this passion for fostering peace.

Nicola O'Neill, a former pupil of St Gregory's, is married with three sons. As well as being a school governor, she works as a practitioner for a drug, alcohol and gambling treatment service.