A man carving an inscription on the foundation stone for Coventry Cathedral, Coventry, West Midlands

Ralph Beyer (1921-2008) was a sculptor employed to carve inscriptions for the new Coventry Cathedral. John Laing plc built the new cathedral between 1955 and 1962 to replace the original which was largely destroyed during the Second World War. The inscription on the stone reads: 'To the glory of GOD this Foundation Stone was laid by Queen Elizabeth the Second on the 23rd Day of March 1956. Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ'. Inscribed foundation stones, laid by prominent public figures, are often used as a way to express the importance of buildings at the time of their construction and long into the future.

Location

West Midlands Coventry

Themes

Tags

1950s (1950 - 1959) carving stone people man work laing