27 March 2025

When we arrived at Coventry Cathedral, we noticed a very powerful welcome statement tied to the gates of the cathedral. It read:

WELCOME TO COVENTRY CATHEDRAL

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, straight, gay, questioning, well-healed or down at heal. We especially welcome wailing babies and excited toddlers.

You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woken up, or just out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury or haven’t been to church since Christmas ten years ago.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegans, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems, are down in the dumps or don’t like organised religion (we’re not that keen on it either!).

We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or are here because granny is visiting and wanted to look round. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, both, or neither. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throats as kids, or got lost on the ring road and wound up here by mistake.

We welcome pilgrims, tourists, seekers, doubters – and especially you …

PLEASE COME IN!