“Christ in Glory in the Tetramorph”, Graham Sutherland, 1962, Coventry Cathedral.
In November 1940 Coventry Cathedral was destroyed by bombs. The gothic ruins were conserved and the plans for a new cathedral specified this image of Christ in glory showing victory, serenity and compassion. Graham Sutherland created a huge green tapestry measuring 79 by 35 ft. The deep green background suggests the whole of creation. Sutherland draws on several culturally diverse ways in which divinity has been depicted through time, while delivering a very human Christ who is “ of the moment, yet for all time”. Christ is surrounded by figures which allude to his glory and power. Notably, the four living creatures of Revelation 4:2-7 pay him reverence and on the right St Michael slays the dragon. Above him the Holy Spirit hovers as rays light. Said to be the largest single tapestry in existence, to my eye it doesn’t look like a tapestry. The work has the appearance of a kind of collage as if the individual elements were drawn together by Christ’s coming in glory. Come Lord Jesus, come!
The Catholic Chaplaincy serves the students and staff of the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University and Queen Margaret University.
The Catholic Chaplaincy is also a parish of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh (the Parish of St Albert the Great) and all Catholic students and staff are automatically members of this parish.
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St Albert's Catholic Chaplaincy is part of the English Province of the Order of Preachers, a charity registered in England and Wales (231192) and in Scotland (SC039062).