A Holy rivalry
St Michael’s and Holy Trinity churches are fewer than 50 metres apart... so why were these great features of the city skyline built so closely together?
COVENTRY is world famous for its three spires, but ever wondered why two of the city’s greatest churches were built right next to each other?
That’s because in the early 1100s, Coventry was a town very much divided.
With a population of just a few hundred people, the settlement was controlled by two landlords and each had their own district – the Prior’s Half to the north and the Earl’s Half to the south.
Having become extremely wealthy on the back of Coventry’s wool trade, and needing somewhere to worship, they each built their own rival churches.
As a result Holy Trinity and St Michael’s Church were built on the same hilltop just 50 yards apart.
Holy Trinity on the north side of the hill became the parish church for the Prior and the general public, while St Michael’s to the south was the parish church for the Earl and his tenants – namely the gentry and traders. The split in the city saw a difference in day-to-day living and working practices.
The Earl’s tenants traded independently while the Prior’s tenants worked for the benefit of the Priory but had other privileges like freedom of the market at the Priory gates.
Coventry became a city in 1345 when King Edward III granted a Royal Charter of Incorporation, meaning Coventry could now govern itself with a council and an elected mayor.
Soon both the Prior’s and Earl’s territories had come under the control of the Corporation, the forerunner of today’s city y council.ouncil.
St MICHAEL’S
Th The present structure largely originates from the late 1300s to early 1400s but originally a smaller chapel of Norman design stood on the site.
It was first mentioned in 1138, and was referred to in one record as “the church of St Michael’s in the Bailey”, which gives some idea of its origin within the grounds of Coventry Castle.
It became one of the largest and finest parish churches in England and, in 1918, was elevated to cathedral status on the creation of the Coventry Diocese. The building now stands ruined after being bombed during World War Two. Only the tower, spire, the outer wall remain.
HOLY TRINITY
Holy Trinity was first mentioned in 1113 as a chapel to St Mary’s Priory which had been founded as a monastery by Leofric and Lady Godiva in 1043 and converted into a cathedral by the middle of the 1200s.
The original Holy Trinity was virtually destroyed in a fire in 1257.
The north porch was the only part of the building to survive and is still in use today.
The rest of the church was entirely rebuilt during the 1300s.
The walls were brightly painted, helping those churchgoers who could not read to understand the messages of the bible.