Letter: Designs on Coventry

Sir: As an unsuccessful entrant in the competition for the design of the new Coventry Cathedral, I believe it is only proper to remind Canon Oestreicher (Letter, 13 June) that whatever one may feel about the building and its furnishings, the difficulties of creating a fusion of tradition and a space for a contemporary liturgy were very great. The hundreds of architects who submitted schemes gave great thought to these matters, few of which were 'whims'.

Cuthbert Bardsley, first bishop to serve the new cathedral, was not happy about the narwhal crozier. As architect to his private chapel at the time, I was responsible for providing him with a demountable crozier made from beech and sycamore.

Yours faithfully,

COLIN SHEWRING

King's Lynn, Norfolk