Coventry’s affiliated naval ship, HMS Diamond, is now undergoing a major refit in Portsmouth and the Cross of Nails it had has been returned to the Cathedral.
In the days after the Coventry blitz on the night of 14th November 1940 Revd. Arthur Wales, of St. Mark’s Church, fashioned together three of the large medieval nails that had fallen from the roof. This became the first Cross of Nails and the symbol of the Cross of Nails became synonymous with peace and reconciliation ever since.
Many crosses, all constructed from the many old medieval nails recovered from the ruins have gone all over the world of signs of reconciliation.
The one in HMS Diamond was in fact recovered from HMS Coventry, the ship that was sunk in the Falkland’s war.
The current HMS Diamond is a Type 45 destroyer. It played a significant role in war in the Middle East, shooting down nine drones and a Houthi missile. The ship was protecting trade in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
HMD Diamond is currently in drydock for a long major re-fit, taking 3 to 4 years. The ship is to be gutted for new propulsion equipment and many upgrades to be fitted. There are no navy personnel on board now, only contractors.
The Commanding Officer, Cdr Peter Evans, together with some members of Diamond’s crew duly delivered the Cross of Nails to the Cathedral. They were met by the Dean the Very Reverend John Witcombe, and had a brief tour of the old cathedral followed by a tour of the “new” cathedral.
Following this there was a Liturgy of Reconciliation service to mark the return of the Cross of Nails held in front of the Font.
The Cross will be returned to the ship on completion of her re-fit.
