German peace activist Rainer Frommann visits Coventry
On 13 April 2024, members of Coventry Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation joined Coventry Cathedral’s Director for Reconciliation Rev Canon Mary Gregory to welcome peace activist Rainer Frommann and members of his family who had travelled from Freiburg Germany to visit the cathedral’s centre for world reconciliation.
Rainer told the reception: “meeting you has been another step in repairing my war-torn heart. Being in Coventry, and meeting you all is so important to me, thank you with all my heart. Being here is another connection, relieving the burdens of war. We all have the need for love, peace and reconciliation.”
Rainer Frommann brought an artwork gift made by school children in Freiburg remembering the bombing of their city on 7th October 1944. This will be framed by the Peace Committee with information and added to Coventry’s collection of memorials of World War Two.
Canon Gregory talked about the foundation of the ministry of reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral. She explained how, in 1940 on the day after the bombing of Coventry, Provost Howard advocated forgiveness and reconciliation, having ‘Father Forgive’ inscribed in the ruined chancel of the cathedral rather than ‘Father Forgive them’, the words of Jesus on the Cross, to remind us that we all need forgiveness, not just those who have harmed us.
Pru Poretta, Coventry’s Lady Godiva, told our guests the long history of Coventry as a City of Justice including how Lady Godiva rebelled against excessive taxes by riding nude through Coventry before the year 1057.
Chair of Coventry Lord Mayor’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation, Paul Maddocks, together with committee member Mary Goodwin led a tour of both old and new Cathedrals including a visit to the Blitz Museum in Coventry’s Old Cathedral.
The welcome shared other stories of Coventry and peace making and also about the world leading work of Hiroshima Peace Park and Coventry’s partnership with the City of Hiroshima.