Coventry Cross of Nails in St Marien
Growing together in hope and peace
Peace and reconciliation in a global community:
The Community of Cross of Nails.
Cross of Nails in St Marien
In 1971, St. Marien became a Cross of Nails Centre and a member of the Cross of Nails Community.
In our memorial chapel, you will see a special cross next to the broken bells: the Cross of Nails from Coventry. After the destruction of Coventry Cathedral on 14/15 November 1940 by German bombing raids, the then provost of the cathedral, Richard Howard, had the words "FATHER FORGIVE" carved into the choir wall of the ruins. These words define the Coventry Reconciliation Prayer, which describes the task of Christianity worldwide.
Every Friday (May to October, except on public holidays) at 12:05 pm, as in all Cross of Nails centres, a prayer for peace with the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation takes place in St. Marien. In the face of countless wars and violent conflicts worldwide, we ask for reconciliation and peace and recall the Christian responsibility to work for peace, justice and the integrity of creation. You are cordially invited to join us.
We have a special relationship with the City Centre Churches in York and visit each other regularly. Personal encounters are the best way to achieve understanding and reconciliation.
The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Therefore we pray:
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
FATHER FORGIVE.
The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,
FATHER FORGIVE.
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
FATHER FORGIVE.
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,
FATHER FORGIVE.
Our indifference to the plight of imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,
FATHER FORGIVE.
The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,
FATHER FORGIVE.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,
FATHER FORGIVE.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)
AMEN
