{"id":2483283,"date":"2026-07-01T11:04:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T11:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2483283"},"modified":"2026-07-01T11:04:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T11:04:47","slug":"coventry-cathedral-glass-engraving-damaged-in-set-up-for-music-event-coventry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/coventry-cathedral-glass-engraving-damaged-in-set-up-for-music-event-coventry\/","title":{"rendered":"Coventry Cathedral glass engraving damaged in set-up for music event | Coventry"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Deep cracks have appeared in one of the huge angels etched into John Hutton\u2019s west screen of glass panels at Coventry<\/a> Cathedral after a major music event.<\/p>\n

It has prompted concern that the increase in cathedrals hosting outside events, a big source of revenue, risks damaging some of the UK\u2019s most important religious architecture.<\/p>\n

The west screen, considered a 20th-century masterpiece, has 66 larger-than-life saints and angels designed and hand-engraved by Hutton. It was commissioned by the architect, Sir Basil Spence, whose monumental building incorporated the ruins of the 14th-century cathedral, which was bombed during the second world war.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Alexander, a professor of architectural history at Warwick University, said the etched panels were groundbreaking when they were first revealed. \u201cNobody had ever done anything on that scale before,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The screen was damaged on 22 May, when the Illuminated Orchestra was setting up for its concert of \u201cdark fantasy film music\u201d. The ensemble regularly performs in historical buildings.<\/p>\n

Its musical director, Kellija Moncaka, said the the damage was caused by a freak accident involving a ladder used to put up lighting.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>John Hutton\u2019s west screen with the damaged panel on the left covered by chipboard<\/span> Photograph: Professor Louise Campbell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt was purely an accident of a gust of wind \u2026 when we were setting up,\u201d she said. \u201cI saw the cathedral staff cover up the screen straight after.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prof Louise Campbell, a leading authority on Coventry Cathedral, raised concerns about the damage with her colleagues.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cathedral has not publicised this, perhaps because it occurred during one of the events which bring in revenue, or perhaps because there was some failure of supervision,\u201d she wrote in an email.<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>John Hutton\u2019s west screen at Coventry Cathedral.<\/span> Photograph: Ian Bottle\/Alamy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She told the Guardian: \u201cThe cathedral, in order to earn money, has events \u2013 not only its own events \u2013 but it hosts events from outside organisers, anything from pop concerts to drama. I\u2019ve always been rather worried about the impact of these events. Clearly something went very wrong in May.\u201d<\/p>\n

She is asking for the cathedral\u2019s events programme to be paused to review how to protect Hutton\u2019s fragile work.<\/p>\n

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