Lichfield Cathedral

Coordinates: 52°41′08″N 1°49′50″W / 52.6855°N 1.8305°W / 52.6855; -1.8305
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lichfield Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Chad
Canon Treasurer
David Primrose
Laity
Director of musicBen Lamb
Organist(s)Martyn Rawles

Lichfield Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in

Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom with three spires (together with Truro Cathedral and St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh), and the only medieval one of the three. It is the cathedral of the Diocese of Lichfield, which covers Staffordshire, much of Shropshire, and parts of the Black Country and West Midlands. It is the seat of the Bishop of Lichfield, currently Michael Ipgrave, who was appointed in 2016. It is a Grade I listed building.[1]

Overview

The cathedral is dedicated to St Chad and St Mary. Its internal length is 113 m (371 ft), and the breadth of the nave is 21 m (69 ft). The central spire is 77 m (253 ft) high and the western spires are about 58 m (190 ft). The stone is sandstone and came from a quarry on the south side of Lichfield. The walls of the nave lean outwards slightly, due to the weight of stone used in the ceiling vaulting; some 200–300 tons of which was removed during renovation work to prevent the walls leaning further.[2]

Lichfield suffered severe damage during the English Civil War in which all of the stained glass was destroyed. In spite of this the windows of the Lady Chapel contain some of the finest medieval Flemish painted glass in existence. Dating from the 1530s it came from the Abbey of Herkenrode in Belgium, in 1801, having been purchased by Brooke Boothby when that abbey was dissolved during the Napoleonic Wars. It was sold on to the cathedral for the same price. There are also some fine windows by Betton and Evans (1819), and many fine late 19th century windows, particularly those by Charles Eamer Kempe.[2]

The Lichfield Gospels, also known as the Book of Chad, are the gospels of Matthew and Mark, and the early part of Luke, written mainly in Latin with some text in early Welsh and dating from around 730. There were originally two volumes but one went missing around the time of the English Civil War. It is closely related in style to the Lindisfarne Gospels.[3] The manuscript is on display in the Chapter House from Easter to Christmas.

The Cathedral Close is one of the most complete in the country and includes a medieval courtyard which once housed the men of the choir. The three spires are often referred to as the "Ladies of the Vale".

History of the cathedral

Early history and elevation to Archbishopric

The cathedral's Choir, built around 1200

When Chad was made

Aethelheard of Canterbury.[6]

Starting in 1085 and continuing through the twelfth century the original wooden Saxon church was replaced by a Norman cathedral made from stone, and this was in turn replaced by the present

Chapter House, which was completed in 1249 and is one of the most beautiful parts of the cathedral with some charming stone carvings, houses an exhibition of the cathedral's greatest treasure, the Lichfield Gospels, an 8th-century illuminated manuscript.[6]

Devastation of the English Civil War

There were three great sieges of Lichfield during the period 1643–1646 as the cathedral close was surrounded by a ditch and defensive walls, which made it a natural fortress. The cathedral authorities with a certain following were for

Charles I, but the townsfolk generally sided with Parliament, and this led to the fortification of the close in 1643. Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke, led an assault against it, but was killed by a deflected bullet from John Dyott (known as 'dumb' because he was a deaf mute) who along with his brother Richard Dyott had taken up a position on the battlements of the central cathedral spire on 2 March 1643.[citation needed] Brooke's deputy John Gell, took over the siege.[8] The Royalist garrison surrendered to Gell two days later.[6]

In April of the same year (1643)

The siege started on 8 April. During the second assault Rupert's engineers detonated what is thought to be the first explosive mine to be used in England to breach the defences. Unable to defend the Close, Colonel Russell, the parliamentary commander of the garrison, surrendered on terms to Rupert on 21 April.[9]

The cathedral suffered extensive damage: the central spire was demolished, the roofs ruined and all the stained glass smashed. Bishop Hacket began the restoration of the cathedral in the 1660s, aided by substantial funds donated by the restored monarch, but it was not until the 19th century that the damage caused by the Civil War was fully repaired. Up until the 19th century, on top of an ornamented gable, between the two spires, stood a colossal figure of Charles II, by William Wilson. Today it stands just outside the south doors.[6]

Victorian restoration

Although the 18th century was a golden age for the City of Lichfield, it was a period of decay for the cathedral. The 15th-century library, on the north side of the nave, was pulled down and the books moved to their present location above the Chapter House. Most of the statues on the west front were removed and the stonework covered with Roman cement. At the end of the century James Wyatt organised some major structural work, removing the High Altar to make one worship area of Choir and Lady Chapel and adding a massive stone screen at the entrance to the Choir.[2] Francis Eginton painted the east window and was commissioned by the chapter to do other work in the cathedral.

The ornate west front was extensively renovated in the Victorian era by George Gilbert Scott.[6] It includes a remarkable number of ornate carved figures of kings, queens and saints, working with original materials where possible and creating fine new imitations and additions when the originals were not available. Between 1877 and 1884 the empty niches on the west front were given new statues, most carved by Robert Bridgeman of Lichfield: the statue of Queen Victoria on the north side of the central window was carved by her daughter, Princess Louise.[2]

Wyatt's

choir-screen had utilised medieval stone-work which Scott in turn used to create the clergy's seats in the sanctuary. The new metal screen by Francis Skidmore and John Birnie Philip to designs by Scott himself is a triumph of High Victorian art, as are the fine Mintons tiles in the choir, inspired by the medieval ones found in the Choir foundations and still seen in the Library.[6]

Lichfield Angel

Main article: Lichfield Angel
The Lichfield Angel carving

In February 2003, an eighth-century sculpted panel of the Archangel Gabriel was discovered under the nave of the cathedral. The 600mm tall panel is carved from limestone, and originally was part of a stone chest, which is thought to have contained the relics of St Chad. The panel was broken into three parts but was still otherwise intact and had traces of red pigment from the period. The pigments on the Lichfield Angel correspond closely to those of the Lichfield Gospels which have been dated to around 730AD. The Angel was first unveiled to the public in 2006, when visitor numbers to the cathedral trebled. After being taken to Birmingham for eighteen months for examination, it is now exhibited in the cathedral.[10]

COVID-19 pandemic

On Friday 15 January 2021, while closed to services during the

vaccination programme in the United Kingdom.[11][12]

Shrine of St Chad

On the 7 and 8 November 2022 a new shrine to St Chad was consecrated and a relic of the saint was translated from St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham, at two separate services.[13]

Dean and chapter

As of 7 December 2020:[14]

The additional role of Vice Dean has been vacant since Anthony Moore's resignation in 2017.

Lay Chapter

  • Bryan Ramsell
  • Anne Parkhill
  • Margaret Harding
  • Peter Durrant

Music

See also: List of musicians at English cathedrals
Lichfield Cathedral Organ

Organists

Notable organists of Lichfield Cathedral include the 17th-century composer Michael East, and the musical educator and choral conductor William Henry Harris who conducted at the coronations of both Elizabeth II and George VI

Priest Vicars Choral

  • The Precentor's Vicar: Vacant
  • The Dean's Vicar: Vacant
  • The Chancellor's Vicar: Vacant
  • The Treasurer's Vicar: Vacant

Lay Vicars Choral and Choristers

The Choir has eight Lay Vicars Choral on staff and in 2021 reduced the full time equivalents from 9 to 6. In the front rows Lichfield has 18 boy Choristers and up to 18 girl Choristers.[17]

Burials

See also

Citations

  1. ^ Historic England. "Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Chad (1298431)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lichfield: The cathedral Pages 47–57 A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 14, Lichfield. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1990". British History Online.
  3. ^ Hawkes, Ross (9 July 2010). "American experts help record Lichfield Cathedral's St Chad Gospels". Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  4. ^ Oswald Mosley (1858). A Short Account of the Ancient British Church. James Ridgway. p. 109.
  5. ^ Thomas Harwood (1806). The History and Antiquities of the Church and City of Lichfield:: Containing Its Ancient and Present State, Civil and Ecclesiastical; Collected from Various Public Records, and Other Authentic Evidences, Page 177, Issue 390. London: Cadell and Davies. pp. 6–7.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Lichfield Cathedral: Our history". Lichfield Cathedral. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  7. ^ "BBC Stoke & Staffordshire 360° - Lichfield Cathedral". BBC. 12 August 2002. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b Willis-Bund 1905, pp. 83–84.
  9. ^ Willis-Bund 1905, pp. 80–90.
  10. ISBN 978-0-9558887-7-9
    .
  11. ^ "Covid-19: Lichfield Cathedral turned into vaccination centre". BBC News. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  12. ^ Morris, Steven (16 January 2021). "Covid vaccine jabs accompanied by organ music at Salisbury Cathedral". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  13. ^ "The Reinstatement of the Shrine of St Chad". Lichfield Cathedral. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Who's Who". Lichfield-cathedral.org. 7 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  15. ^ @BpJanMc (3 April 2020). "Thanks to modern technology I am now officially commissioned as Canon Custos @LichfieldCath and Assistant Bishop…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Collationa and Installation of Canon Chancellor and Canon Custos | Welcoming Revd Dr Gregory Platten and art Revd Jan McFarlane to Lichfield Cathedral | By Lichfield Cathedral | Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  17. ^ "Lichfield Cathedral Choir Web Site". Archived from the original on 14 June 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2006.
  18. ^ "The Relics of St Chad". St Chad's Cathedral. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Lord Anglesey's burial – See p. 35". Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

General references

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lichfield Cathedral.
  • Lichfield Cathedral website
  • Manuscripts of Lichfield Cathedral—Digital facsimiles of the St Chad Gospels and Cathedral's Wycliffe New Testament; includes overlay viewer, multispectral images, historical images (going back to 1887), collation, and presently sixteen interactive 3D and RTI renderings—University of Oklahoma
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