CITY artist Cathy Renken has created a new book with all the funds going to Coventry Cathedral.
Coventry’s Story of War, Peace and Reconciliation is full of illustrations children can colour in.
The book depicts how Coventry Cathedral has bought communities together after the building was bombed in Second World War.
It is suitable for five to 14-year-olds and fits in with the national curriculum.
Artist Cathy said the inspiration for the book was to show the cathedral’s crucial work and stress the importance of building peace in the community.
“Many people know of the WW2 Coventry Blitz but it’s the story of forgiveness which followed that is so important.
“The book will help children learn about how to move forward and reconcile with those who have hurt us. It tells the story of the cathedral old and new and what the reconciliation team stands for today, which is working with religious and non-religious organisations to develop a city of peace builders in schools, businesses and communities locally and internationally.”
The book has been funded by Coventry businessman Clive Benfield who worked on the building with his father, former Lord Mayor Kenneth Benfield in the 1970s.
Clive’s grandfather worked as a churchwarden at the cathedral, his parents got married there and his brother, Michael, was the last person to be christened at the old cathedral before it was bombed.
He said: “The cathedral – both old and new – has always played an important part in my family and I want to do whatever I can to support it.”
Visit coventrycathedral.org.uk/shop/products/colouring-book-coventrys-story-of-war-peace-reconciliation to buy the book.
