Christian Chapel
COVID Restrictions
Updated July 2021
The Chapel is open 9am to 5pm for prayer or meditation. The reserved sacrament is kept in the chapel.
The Chapel is a place of quiet and reflection which can be used for prayer and contemplation whenever there is no service taking place.
It is dedicated as a Christian Chapel and contains a simple Cross of Nails*, Icons and an Altar. It's used by people of all denominations and by people who have no connections to Christianity but value the peace and stillness. Faith Societies can hold prayer meetings or discussion-groups here by prior arrangement with the Chaplaincy Coordinator.
It's used by our Anglican and Free Church Chaplains for the Wednesday mid-week communion, and by our Catholic Chaplains for Mass on Thursdays and Fridays. We also host a weekly Quaker Meeting on Tuesdays. Please look at our calendar for details of services.
Community of the Cross of Nails
In November 1940, during World War 2, Coventry endured 11 hours of aerial bombing resulting in huge devastation to the city's infrastructure as well as injury and loss of life to its population. Coventry's beautiful medieval Cathedral was badly damaged, leaving only the spire and outer walls intact. On the morning following the blitz, the Vicar of the Cathedral found 2 wooden beams that had fallen in the shape of a cross. He had them tied together and placed where the Altar had stood and wrote the words 'Father Forgive' behind the cross. Dozens of the huge nails which used to hold the roof beams in place were collected and formed into crosses and sent to churches and civic leaders across Europe including our 'enemies' in Germany as a symbol of future reconciliation. This was the beginning of the Community of the Cross of Nails, a network which now numbers more than 240 churches, chapels, schools and other organisations across the world, including the Chapel here at the University of Warwick. It's three aims are shared by all:
- Healing the Wounds of History
- Learning to Live with Difference and Celebrate Diversity
- Building a Culture of Peace
Introduction to the Chapel
Community of the Cross of Nails
(External Link)