Corpus Christi
Procession for the Coventry Deanery Sunday 8th June, 2008
Photographs link
This began with prayers in
the the ruins of the Whitefriars Monastery, processing along the
footpath to the
ruins of the Carthusian Monastery of London road with Benediction, 3.30
– 4pm.
Whitefriars
Monastery For
photographs and more history visit:
http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/tour/whitefriars.php
The Carmelite Monastery was founded in 1342
and gradually expanded as charitable donations
and funding became available. The friars
survived by providing shelter to the needy and passing travellers, and
also by
preaching enthusiastically to the townsfolk, with whom they appear to
have had
a good relationship. The monastery was
largely destroyed at the dissolution of the monasteries, and the Church
in
1572.
Charterhouse Monastery
The Charterhouse incorporates all that
remains of the Carthusian Priory of Saint Anne, founded in
1381-2. The Carthusians were an order of monks founded
by Saint Bruno in 1084 at Chartreuse in Southern France.
Our English word Charterhouse, used for a
house of Carthusian monks, is a corruption of the name
Chartreuse. There were only nine Carthusian foundations
established in England. Only the foundations of the church now
remain
and the surviving building is believed to have been the Prior’s cell or
lodging
and the monks’ refectory. There were
eventually 11 cells for monks, arranged around a Great Cloister.
The Charterhouse’s main treasure is the bottom
third of a magnificent mediaeval wall painting of Christ’s
crucifixion. This may be seen in what is now room 5. The
altar stone from the Church is now sadly
part of a fireplace in one of the rooms.
You can see the consecration crosses.