Bishops, Conquest to Reformation

     There is no record of the church before Bishop Clinton and little until Bishop Nonant. Bishop Muschamp is said to have been the first bishop to be buried at Lichfield, but this is uncertain. The current view is that reconstruction of the cathedral does not start until the episcopacy of Bishop Muschamp. The cathedral is secondary to Coventry throughout this period and is often in conflict with the monastery, especially regarding the nomination of a new bishop. During the 13th century at least thirteen chantries were founded in the cathedral, most located close to the high altar. For around 80 years, on-and-off, the Treasurer of England in the 14th century was held by someone associated with the cathedral; this must have assured income. Many of the canons in this time were royal clerks and attended to the king’s affairs. It was a ‘king’s cathedral’. There were also many canons who were linked with the papal court. By the beginning of the 16th-century the finances were in a poor shape and the number of clergy was much reduced.

Peter, Bishop of Licifeldensis, 1070 (some think 1067) –1085, agreed to move the see to Chester, 1072 or 3, following orders in a Norman Church Council. He was now Bishop of Centrenis. He could have been a royal chaplain to William the Conqueror an almost certainly was from a Norman family. Absentee

 Robert de Limesey, 1086–1117, moved the see at Chester to Coventry, c. 1095, but officially 1102. He had been a chaplain to William the Conqueror and became an envoy to the pope on behalf of Henry I. The de Limesi family were Normans from Rouen, north Normandy, and were related distantly to William. Absentee

 Robert Peche (Pecham), 1121–1126/7, was a chaplain to Henry I. In 1120, Henry’s son and heir, William, drowned when the ‘White Ship’ was wrecked off Barfleur attempting to cross the Channel. This loss altered Henry profoundly and perhaps Robert Peche helped the King to grieve. He could have been present at the King’s second wedding, Windsor, 24 January 1121.  Absentee

 Roger de Clinton, 1129–1148. Roger’s uncle, Geoffrey de Clinton came from an obscure minor estate in Cotentin, west Normandy and probably knew Henry I as a young man. By 1120 he was Henry’s chamberlain and treasurer. He was given the sheriffdom of Warwickshire and permission to build Kenilworth Castle, a counterweight to Warwick Castle owned by the Beaumont family and suspected by Henry of being disloyal. Geoffrey possibly offered Henry 3000 marks if he would make Roger the bishop. Roger was part of the deputation to the pope, 1139, required to defend King Stephen against the charge of breaking his oath to Henry I of making his daughter Matilda heir to the throne. This suggests Clinton supported Stephen in the Wars of Anarchy, 1138–1153; many bishops changed sides, some several times. There is a suggestion Clinton increased the number of prebends, but this could be a confusion of what occurred at Coventry. He did reconstitute the chapter along the lines of other cathedrals. A dean is apparent around 1140. Clinton died at Antioch on a crusade. More of a soldier than a priest. Indifferent, especially to Lichfield?  

Walter Durdent, 1149–1159, was a Benedictine monk and theologian appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was essentially a Bishop of Coventry, and was buried there. Absentee 

Richard Peche, 1161–1182, was another Coventry bishop appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is said to have only used the title Bishop of Coventry. He assisted in the coronation of Henry II in 1170 and for a time was suspended from his see for this act. Around 1170 a precentor is mentioned. In 1176, the deanery was improved. When he died and was buried at Stafford, he assumed to be an Augustinian monk. Minor involvement. 

Gerard la Pucelle, 1183–4, took the oath of fealty to Henry II in 1168. Gerard was in Thomas Becket’s entourage and a close friend of John of Salisbury, an Anglo-Saxon scholar. Some suspected he died of poison. Absentee

 Hugh de Nonant, 1188–1198, was related to two bishops of Lisieux, west Normandy. His name suggests he came from a distinguished Norman family. He served both Archbishop Thomas Becket and King Henry II. He went into exile with Becket, but then left him. He then served Richard I who made him sheriff of three counties and this made him wealthy. When Richard was captured and ransomed, Nonant ignored his plea and instead supported John in his quest to seize kingship. One historian believes he was John's chief propagandist. When Richard returned, he had to rebuy his position; his sheriffdoms were unavailable. He greatly upset the monks at both Canterbury and Coventry cathedral and is reported to have said he wanted to get rid of all monks. The first statutes of the cathedral were written in 1191, probably by the dean and chapter. They had a resemblance to the statutes of Rouen Cathedral. In 1195, there were 22 canons and their duties were now fixed. Nonant gave up his bishopric and returned to France where he assumed the habit of a monk!  Minor interest in Lichfield. Episcopate limited to the years 1189-93.

 Geoffrey de Muschamp, 1198–1208, probably came from a baronial family in Wallovere, Northumberland. He was elected bishop by the monks of Coventry and probably supported by the Archbishop of York and Richard I. He was present at John’s coronation in 1199. He was one of the bishops who fled from England in 1207 when John was given a papal edict to accept John Langton as the Archbishop of Canterbury and to readmit the monks of the cathedral. On 23 March 1208, the edict was followed and all church services stopped. Muschamp died October 1208 and might be buried at Lichfield, not Coventry.      First to take a direct interest in Lichfield

 William de Cornhill, 1215–1223, was possibly the brother or nephew to Reginald de Cornhill one of King John's chief administrators. Their family appear to have had estates in London and Kent. He was elected bishop by the monks of Coventry, against John’s preference, and was one of the enforcers for John when he accepted the Magna Carta in 1215. Cornhill was present at the first coronation of Henry III in 1216. A stroke in 1221 caused loss of speech and perhaps eventually resignation. In 1222, William de Mancetter (Manecestra) was appointed dean and he probably continued Cornhill’s initiatives. Cornhill was the first recorded bishop to be buried in the cathedral. Could have been the bishop to inspire a totally new cathedral.

 Alexander de Stavenby, 1224–1238, was probably from Stainsby, Lincolnshire. He knew Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, and worked for a pope. He wrote statutes for how priests should behave including every Christian should say the Lord’s Prayer 7 times each day. He also wrote a tract on the nature of pride, envy, anger, sloth (idleness in the service of God), avarice, luxury and gluttony. He listed both Coventry and Lichfield as seats of his diocese. He served Henry III as a diplomat and represented the king on many missions to Rome and France. Transepts and much of the nave were built during his episcopacy and he must have agreed for the king to influence its architecture. He was buried in the cathedral. Good

Hugh de Pateshull, or Hugh Pattishall,1239–1241, came from Pattishall, Northamptonshire, and a family of judges. He was a royal clerk, clerk to the exchequer and ultimately Lord High Treasurer, 1234–1240. He loyally served Henry III and it was the king who chose him as bishop after three failed attempts to fill the post. Short-lived compromise, but ensured the king’s interest in the construction of the cathedral.

 Roger Weseham, 1245–1256, was probably a native of Weasenham, Norfolk and a lecturer and theologian at Oxford University, who wrote much on sermons.  He was appointed by the pope after much disagreement on who should be elected bishop. He, with previous bishops, added prebends and by 1255, there were 28. Thomas Wymondham became the precentor in the 1241 interregnum and by 1265 was Treasurer of England. This must have helped the funds. Weseham was forced to resign by due to paralysis. A concerned priest

 Roger de Meuland, (de Longespee) 1258–1295. Nothing is known of his paternity and early life, but he might have been brought up in France and was distantly related to Henry III. He was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield for 37 years, in a time when there was much construction of the current cathedral.  His elevation to bishop was probably managed by Richard the king’s brother. He upset Henry by trying to control royal free chapels in the diocese and later by cooperating with Simon de Montfort when he took control in 1264. He gave his loyalty back to Henry when he regained power in 1265 and then to Edward I in 1272. He was given the sheriffdom of two counties making him wealthy. During his episcopacy a choir of six paid choristers was mentioned in 1265. In 1281–2, he was censured twice for not confirming people.   Meuland’s stone coffin was probably the one found in the 1992 excavation of the south choir aisle. See the post ‘Bishop Meuland – an enigma’ for a longer biography. Managed in turbulent times. He much improved the statutes of the cathedral.

 Walter de Langton, 1296–1321, was born in West Langton or Church Langton, Leicestershire. He said he was the son of Simon Peverel, a family having wealth and power in Tudor times. An uncle was Dean of York in 1262. He became a clerk of the wardrobe, 1281–2 in Edward I’s royal chancery. In 1295, the king made him treasurer and he retained this position until1307. A year later he was made Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. He became considerably rich and remained loyal to Edward; the Queen described him as 'the king's right eye’. On Edward’s death in 1307, Edward II and resentful barons invented charges against him and placed him in prison. He was released in1309, pardoned in 1312 and again became the treasurer. It is clear Langton schemed financial dealings, was ruthless when embroiled in considerable litigation and very good at conniving to make personal gain. This was only possible with royal support and in return Langton was totally loyal to the crown. He was buried near the altar. For a longer biography see the post ‘Bishop Walter Langton – benefactor’. Very powerful and rich. A great benefactor. Raised the cathedral and the Close. The Great Register began at the end of his episcopacy.  

Roger de Northburgh, 1322–1358, origins are oddly unknown, but probably came from landed French nobility. He was employed in the royal wardrobe of Edward I and then Edward II. In 1311–12, he accompanied the king’s army to Scotland and then across northern England. He was trusted to keep the Privy Seal and for the first time this was made independent of the king and barons. In 1314, he joined the king at the battle of Bannockburn and was captured. On being freed he became the Keeper of the Wardrobe. The king gave him many titles and emoluments in the church eventually making him rich. A twelve long argument between the monks of Coventry and canons of the cathedral led the pope to invest Northburgh as the bishop. Then began numerous disputes between the bishop and his chapter and many churches in the diocese. He removed absentee clergy. He remained politically active and loyal after Edward III came to the throne in 1330. Consequences of the Black Death in 1348, including loss of clergy, and many years of famine had to be managed. Meanwhile he became the Lord Treasurer. He went through a major dispute with certain barons and came close to imprison in the tower. He died in office and was possibly buried in the cathedral, though where is unknown. Northburgh presided during 36 turbulent years, and remained close to three Edward kings. Very powerful and rich. Reordered the diocese and kept records of work on and in the cathedral. A bishop always in dispute with the dean and chapter.

 Robert de Stretton, 1360–1385, was born in one of the Stretton villages in Leicestershire. A scholar who somehow served Edward, the Prince of Wales, probably in the early 1340s. Royal service brought him many ecclesiastical preferments. How Stretton became Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield remains controversial. He was elected to the see, with the support of the Black Prince in1358, but it did not have the pope’s agreement. Royal assent was given in1359, but consecration was delayed almost 22 months, until 1360. One possible problem was Stretton had an eye defect and could not easily read, but this did not stop him becoming a very able administrator of the diocese. He lived near the cathedral and served it reliably, particularly removing absentee clergy and stopping clergy bringing women to their rooms. It was Stretton who moved Langton’s shrine for Chad to the location in front of Langton’s Lady Chapel. Close to his death he became completely blind. He requested to be buried close to the grave site of Chad and in the Chapel of St Andrew (east end of the north choir aisle). Served the cathedral in many ways.

 Richard le Scrope, 1387–1398, was the third son of a baronet at Masham, North Yorkshire. He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities and in 1378 became the Chancellor of Cambridge University. From 1382 he was a papal chaplain and was elected Bishop of Chichester in 1385, but this was blocked by Richard II. A year later he became the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, probably on the recommendation of Richard. The dean for the first time was made to have permanent residency. In 1397, he was sent to Rome on behalf of the king and was there appointed Archbishop of York. In 1399, together with two other bishops, accepted Richard II’s abdication and later escorted Henry Bolingbroke to the throne. Scrope was connected to the Earl of Northumberland by marriage and when they rebelled against the king was caught up in the fighting. Why he entered in military action has remained a mystery. He was captured, sentenced without trial and in 1405 beheaded outside the walls of York. This made him a saint and martyr. For more information see the post, ‘King Richard II of Bordeaux and Lichfield’. Short lived and did little for Lichfield. A schemer.

 John Burghill or Burghull, 1398–1414, origins are unknown until he became a Dominican monk in a convent at Hereford. Perhaps, he came from the village of Burghill, northwest of Hereford. He became a noted Friar preacher. John was made the confessor and chaplain to Richard II, who forwarded him to be bishop at Lichfield. At his installation in Lichfield Cathedral were King Richard, 3 Archbishops, 5 bishops, 4 Dukes, 4 Earls and many others. Richard died c, 1400 and his interment at the Dominican friary church at Kings Langley in Hertfordshire was conducted by Burghill. Afterwards, Burghill became a great benefactor leaving much to the cathedral, and this was warmly commemorated after his death in 1414. Burghill was the first medieval bishop who appeared to not seek position, but instead led a simple, ascetic life. For more information see the post, ‘King Richard II of Bordeaux and Lichfield’. Holy, helpful and much liked.

 John Catterick, 1415–1419, was Bishop of St Davids in 1414 and one year later Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. He did not attend the cathedral and in 1419 was translated to Exeter and died one month later. Absentee

 William Heyworth, 1420–1447, also Heiworth or Hecheworth. It has been conjectured Heyworth came from a family at Wheathampstead, north of St Albans, Hertfordshire, and became Abbot of St Albans before becoming the bishop. There were others with his family name serving in the cathedral during this time. In his time the Sarum Missal was partially introduced to services. In 1424, he founded ‘Milley’s Hospital’. Minor bishop, but little known (there is a gap in records for 50 years).

 William Booth, 1447–1452, was the son of a baronet in Lancashire and became Rector to a Lancashire church. In 1452, after only three years as bishop, was made Archbishop of York. In 1455, he supported the Lancastrians at the start of the Wars of the Roses led by Henry VI’s wife, Margaret of Anjou. Some historians think he became the Queen’s chancellor. In 1461, at the Battle of Towton, the Yorkists defeated the Lancastrians. Booth changed sides and with the Archbishop of Canterbury crowned Edward IV. The defeated Lancastrians fled to Scotland. Booth was one of the leaders of an army which in 1463 repelled an attempted invasion by the Scots initiated by the deposed Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou. He died the following year and was buried at Southwell Minster. Short-lived. Lived in very turbulent times. Powerful.

 Reginald Boulers, 1453–1459, was made abbot in Gloucester in 1437 and Bishop of Hereford in 1450. He was a close friend of Henry VI and supported the Lancastrians. In 1450, he was seized by the Yorkists and imprisoned in Ludlow Castle. This kept him away from the rebelling Lollards. He was one of many bishops joining Archbishop Booth and supporting the queen in 1455 and in a ruling council in 1457. He died in office before the Lancastrians were defeated. Absentee

 John Hales, 1459–1490, came from Sherford, Devon, near Kingsbridge. Between 1457–1450 he was Dean of Exeter Cathedral where previous family had held high office. He became bishop, at the age of 59/60, in Henry VI’s final years of his first reign and was also made the Keeper of the Privy Seal. This title was removed by Edward IV. He died about 90 years old and was buried in the cathedral. Enjoyed the company of scholars. Not much is recorded about how he improved the cathedral.

 William Smyth, 1493–1496, came from a wealthy family at Farnworth, Widnes, Lancashire. It is said he was brought up in the Hall owned by the Earl of Derby. In 1476, he gained a degree in canon law at Oxford University. With the accession of Henry VII after the Battle of Bosworth he was given many preferments and in 1493 the bishopric. He was the custodian of the daughters of Edward IV and made Chancellor of Oxford University. He became wealthy and was philanthropic, including providing a hospital for the poor, aged men and a grammar school in Lichfield, originally known as Priory of St John. He rarely attended the cathedral, being busy with ecclesiastical, legal and political duties. After three years he was translated to Lincoln Cathedral. Minor and indifferent

 John Arundel, 1496–1502, a nobleman from Cornwall. Between 1482–1496, he was Dean of Exeter Cathedral before becoming Bishop. In 1502 he was translated to Exeter. Completely indifferent

 Geoffrey Blythe, 1503–1531, came from Norton, Sheffield. His mother was a sister to the Archbishop of York. He attended Eton and Cambridge. Henry VII sent him on various embassies abroad and then made him bishop. From 1512 to 1524 he was appointed president of the Council of Wales and the Marches. He was acquitted of a treason charge in 1509. His elder brother was Bishop of Salisbury. He led a concerted effort to eradicate a community of Lollards in Coventry, 1511-2, which resulted in 13 martyrdoms by burning. He paid for tapestries and silverware and bequeathed legacies to the cathedral. He gave 50 oaks and £20 for repairs. He was buried near the shrine of Chad. Powerful and good to the cathedral, but infamous in Coventry.

 Rowland Lee or Leigh, 1534–1543, came from Isel, Cumberland and was educated at Cambridge. He obtained various livings under the patronage of Cardinal Wolsey and then with Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell, apparently accepting the suppressing of monasteries. He was involved with the divorce proceedings against Catherine of Aragon and reputedly officiated at Henry's secret marriage to Anne Boleyn, 1533. Soon after he was made Bishop, and on consecration, took the new oath to the King as head of the Church of England and not to the Pope. During his episcopate occurred the loss of Chad’s shrine and other valuables owned by the cathedral. The loss,1541, of the archdeaconry of Chester to the newly formed diocese of Chester was also during his watch. He was made Lord President of the Council of Wales and the Marches and under the direction of Thomas Cromwell harshly instituted law and order in Wales. It is thought he hanged without fair trial many for lawlessness and is said to have been dismayed when Wales came into Union with England in 1536. There are some who think Wales at this time needed severe penalties for disorder. He was buried at Shrewsbury. Powerful and much disliked. He did the bidding of Thomas Cromwell and the king. Possibly amoral.

 

From Reformation, 1534, the bishop’s title changed when Coventry Cathedral was dissolved. From 1535, there were 32 prebends bringing in a total tithe of £400. There were 17 chantry chaplains serving at 13 altars. There were 12 boy choristers, now living in their own house on the north side of the Close.

 

References

C. Spencer, The White Ship, (London: 2020).

Dictionary of National Biography.

M. Morris, King John, (London: 2015).

H. Bicheno, The Wars of the Roses, (London: 2019)

H. E. Savage, 'The earliest statutes of the Cathedral', Unpub. article in Cathedral Library (1920).

Bishops, Reformation to Commonwealth

             The cathedral during this time was poorly financed having lost its revenue from pilgrimage. Bishop Sampson sold off many prebends, some houses in the Close and farmland. Bishops were generally appointed for a short time before they progressed to the dominant cathedrals and higher ecclesiastical positions. They resided at Eccleshall Palace and rarely attended the cathedral. It was also a time of factionalism in the church caused by the varying doctrines of Tudor monarchs. From Reformation much of the work of the cathedral was undertaken by the Dean and Canons and they managed the vicars. Very few records were kept. The cathedral was kept in good repair, but no great alterations were made. By 1600, there were few choristers and little to pay them. The number of priests was much reduced.

Richard Sampson, 1543–1554, was educated at Cambridge and in France. He obtained preferment from Cardinal Wolsey and became chaplain to Henry VIII and given many other positions. He composed choral music. In 1521, at Oxford he had to deal with some heretical books. He became one of Henry VIII's chief agents in his divorce proceedings, being rewarded with the deanery of Lichfield in 1533, but never appeared in the cathedral. In 1536, he became Bishop of Chichester and in 1543 was translated to Lichfield on royal authority alone, without papal confirmation. In 1548, he terminated the chantries and the chantry chaplains. Endowments and the chaplain’s college were sold off. Statues within the cathedral were removed. In his time vestments, plate, and service-books of the cathedral were dispersed. Dean Savage (1927) expressed it as he was responsible during ‘the whole of his tenure for a discreditable traffic (loss) in every king of Church property. When Edward VI became king, Sampson lost his standing, but not bishopric, on account of ignoring the pope on his consecration. In 1554, he was deprived of the bishopric having expressed his regret of being disloyal to the pope. He died at Eccleshall and buried in the parish church. He oversaw and was adept at managing the many changes of Reformation.

 

Ralph Baine, 1554–1559, came from Yorkshire and educated at Cambridge. He was a lecturer in Hebrew. He opposed Henry VIII’s divorce and had to leave the country. In 1553 Mary I came to the throne and she demanded a Catholic form of worship. The cathedral was lacking in most of the apparatus for divine service. Baines was the last Catholic bishop of Lichfield and was much involved in the Protestant persecutions during Mary I’s reign. In 1559, under Elizabeth I he was deprived of his bishopric and imprisoned in the Tower. It is unclear whether he died in the tower or in confinement in a London house. A Catholic caught up in violent times. There were many changes in the priests in the cathedral.

 

Thomas Bentham, 1560–1579, came from Yorkshire and educated at Oxford. He went into exile during Mary I’s reign, but then returned and preached Protestantism whilst in danger of being sent to the stake. He prayed with those in London who were being burnt. He was made bishop under Elizabeth. He is remembered for his theological studies; another academic fluent in Hebrew. In 1579, the Privy Council ordered the destruction of certain copes, vestments, tunicles and other Popish stuff. He was buried at Eccleshall. A bishop who enforced a Protestant worship in the cathedral and diocese. Dean Savage stated he was a Godsend to Lichfield.

William Overton, 1580–1609, was born in London, educated at Glastonbury, Oxford University and Cambridge University. In Elizabeth I’s reign he received many benefices and eventually the bishopric, but came to the cathedral with personal debt. The cathedral was poor and he attempted without much success to improve its and his own finances. He had a reputation of being genial, hospitable, and generous to the poor, but Dean Savage described him as harsh, avaricious and quarrelsome. However, he lived in the deanery, much to the dean’s despair. He helped to develop glassmaking in Staffordshire including importing skilled French workers. He died at Eccleshall. A bishop always having money problems.

 

George Abbot, 1609–1610. Was only a bishop for a month. A learned man who tolerated dissenters. Became Archbishop of Canterbury and took a leading part in preparing the authorised version of the New Testament. He was much against the teaching of William Laud. Short-lived.

 

Richard Neile, 1610–1614, was born in Westminster, educated at Westminster School and sent to Cambridge University as a poor scholar with the patronage of the powerful Burghley family. He held six bishoprics, the most ever achieved, and Lichfield was the second in line. He was responsible for the last burning at the stake in England; Edward Wightman 1612 in Lichfield Market Place. He was close to James I. Neile was a promoter of William Laud and a high churchman. A short-lived bishop with strong anti-Calvinist views. Did little for the cathedral and diocese.

 

John Overall, 1614–1618, was born in Suffolk and studied at Cambridge. He was a learned man who translated much for the King James version of the bible. Like his predecessor he was an Arminian and therefore opposed to Papalism and Puritanism. He rarely attended the cathedral, spending his time on business for the king and church court. Another short-lived bishop with high church views.

 

Thomas Morton, 1619–1632, was born in York and graduated from Cambridge University. He was chaplain to two earls before becoming chaplain to James I. He communicated with many European theologians and lecturers. In 1616, James made him Bishop of Chester and in 1619 Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. He managed Catholic and Calvinist followers with moderation, but was opposed to the doctrine of predestination (all events are willed by God including who he intends to save). The management of the cathedral was left to the dean and four canons. In 1632 he became Bishop of Durham and welcomed Charles I on his visitations. During the Commonwealth he narrowly escaped imprisonment and lived quietly with Royalist friends. A learned man who was generous to all. Little is known of what he gave to the cathedral and diocese.

 

Robert Wright, 1632–1643, was born in humble beginnings in St Albans. He graduated from Oxford and in time became a chaplain to Elizabeth I and then James I. He was Bishop of Bristol in 1623 and then Lichfield in 1632. In his time all the pew seats were removed from the cathedral on the orders of Charles I. He was a Royalist sympathiser, was impeached for high treason and imprisoned in the tower for 18 weeks. He died at Eccleshall Castle in September 1643 under siege by Parliamentarians. A staunch Royalist who had to manage a diocese divided into Royalist and Parliamentarian factions. The cathedral became isolated and a battle site.

 

Accepted Frewen, 1644–1646, was born in Sussex and graduated from Oxford.  He became a chaplain to Charles I even though he was possibly puritanically inclined (his name indicates this). In 1628, he became Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. He was deprived of his see when the English episcopy was abolished in 1646. Parliament declared his estates forfeited for reason of treason and a price was fixed on his head, but he escaped to France. At the Restoration in 1660, he regained the bishopric, but later in the year was made Archbishop of York.  A short-lived Royalist priest who kept his faith, but lost his cathedral.

 

No details concerning services in the cathedral during the war appear to have survived. Some priests took up arms, mainly for the Royalists. Some left the area. Some stayed and helped in the restoration.

Bishops Commonwealth to Recovery

             After the Civil War devastation of the cathedral, its frame was restored by 1670, but the interior remained poor. It was an inner worshipping church within a limewashed, cold cathedral, until thorough restoration began in the 1850s. Lichfield gained a reputation for learning, healthy-living and hospitality, and several bishops were notable clergy, some born to the aristocracy, who soon moved on to high office. Anti-popery, evangelicalism, and Tractarianism were evident in the views of bishops.

 

John Hacket, 1661–1670, was born in London and graduated from Cambridge. In 1623 he was chaplain to James I. In 1641, he pleaded in Parliament for the continuance of cathedral establishments. As the Canon-Resident at St Pauls, he frequently preached before Charles II. He was an ardent Royalist. At the age of 69, in 1661, he was made the Bishop of Lichfield on the recommendation of Charles II, and given the considerable task of funding and overseeing the reconstruction of the ruined cathedral. A team of clergy and builders had already been gathered before Hacket arrived, but he was the manager of funds. Hacket wrote new statutes for the organisation of the cathedral. He died in a prebendal house in the Close, with the sound of a reinstalled bell pealing, and was buried in the cathedral. See the post ‘Bishop John Hacket’ for more information on his life and ‘Damage and Restoration’ for the rebuilding of the cathedral.  A fund-raiser and organiser who oversaw rebuilding of the cathedral over 8 years.

 

Thomas Wood, 1671–1692, was born in Hackney and educated at Westminster School and Oxford. A chaplain to Charles I and was about to have preferments when the Civil War started so he moved abroad. Under Charles II, in 1663, he was made Dean of Lichfield. He detested popery and aligned himself with non-conformists; this was one of the arguments with John Hacket. He was mean and difficult and this upset the canons of the cathedral. He sued because the Bishop’s Palace was not ready for his residency. He rarely visited Lichfield and lived in London and Durham. His family were nobility and this is held to explain why he became bishop; said to be on the recommendation of the mistress of Charles II.The archbishop suspended him conditional on repaying debts and attending the cathedral. Instead, he attended Coventry. He left gifts to places elsewhere. An ineffective bishop, much disliked by those around him. Virtually an absentee.

 

William Lloyd, 1692–1699, born in Berkshire and knew several languages at an early age. Graduated from Oxford and had a series of livings. He was the bishop of St Asaph before moving to Lichfield. During his short episcopy, he had to correct much that his predecessor had neglected. He refined the statutes of the cathedral. He rebuilt the Civil war damaged diocesan residence at Eccleshall Castle. After translation to Worcester, he was prominent in opposition to James II and his Catholic sympathies. Short-lived bishop noted for the restoration of the bishop’s palace.

 

John Hough, 1699–1717, was born in Middlesex and educated in Birmingham or Walsall and then Oxford University. In 1687, he was elected President of Magdalen College, Oxford, against James II’s catholic preference. The king objected in strong ways, but eventually accepted Hough. In 1690 he was made Bishop of Oxford and nine years later Bishop of Lichfield. He rebuilt the episcopal house at Eccleshall. He lived in the diocese and was liked by many. He was notably charitable. A quiet, mild, retiring man. He was offered the primacy, but declined.

 

Edward Chandler, 1717–1730, was born in Dublin and educated at Trinity College. He became chaplain to William Lloyd, Bishop of Lichfield and then succeeded him. He was later translated to Durham and gave £9000 for the see. He was known for his writing, his diatribe against ‘freethinkers’ and for becoming very wealthy. He wrote statutes detailing how clergy should conduct themselves.

 

Richard Smalbroke, 1731–1749, was born in Birmingham and matriculated at Oxford. In 1709, he became the chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in 1724 was made Bishop of St Davids. It is said he learned to speak Welsh. He was translated to Lichfield and has been accused of filling the cathedral with his relatives. During his episcopacy he wrote much and his sermons were published. Like many bishops before, he complained of absentee clergy. In 1738, he was informed the cathedral was in good repair 'except in the roof’. In 1749 many of the statues on the west front were removed. He was buried in the cathedral, whereas three members of his family were buried in the south cloister at Westminster Abbey. A diligent bishop with strong views who expressed them without hesitation.

 

Frederick Cornwallis, 1750–1768, born in London to an aristocratic family. Educated at Eton and Cambridge. In 1746, he was made chaplain to George II and a canon at Windsor. He became Bishop of Lichfield, thanks to the patronage of the Duke of Newcastle. In 1752, he made changes to the times and nature of the services. Inevitably, he was translated to be the Archbishop of Canterbury. Considered to be an able administrator, but an uninspiring priest.

 

John Egerton, 1768–1771, born in Middlesex, the son of a bishop and a member of an aristocratic family. Educated at Eton and Oxford. In 1756 was made Bishop of Bangor before coming to Lichfield. He declined the primacy of Ireland and instead became the Bishop of Durham, though in a poor state of health. He made great improvements in Durham. A short-lived bishop who did not do much for the cathedral and diocese.

 

Brownlow North, 1771–1774, was born in Chelsea to an aristocratic family. A half-brother, Frederick North, became Prime Minister, 1770–1782. Educated at Eton and Oxford. He was priested by Frederick Cornwallis, Bishop of Lichfield. In 1770, he was Dean of Canterbury before becoming Bishop of Lichfield, recommended by his half-brother. Three years later he was translated to Worcester. Another short-lived bishop who did little.

 

Richard Hurd, 1774–1781, born on a farm in Penkridge. Went to Brewood Grammar school and Cambridge. A writer and preacher, including at Lincoln’s Inn. Appointed Bishop in 1774 and two years later became tutor to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. He was then translated to Worcester. The king offered him the primacy, but he declined. He left eight volumes of sermons, dialogues and controversial tracts.  A respected theologian. 

James Cornwallis, 1781–1824, nephew of Frederick Cornwallis and fourth Earl Cornwallis. Educated at Eton and Oxford. He was Dean of Canterbury before becoming Bishop and at the same time Dean of Windsor and Dean of Durham. He died in office. He oversaw alterations to the nave, choir and Lady Chapel between 1788 and 1795. The choir was lengthened so the whole congregation could be seated comfortably. The nave roof was lightened in weight. Improvements were made at Eccleshall Castle. Cornwallis took a keen interest in the improvements and was a liberal subscriber. Many of these changes were much later criticised. A long-serving bishop in a time when much alteration to the cathedral was undertaken.

  

Henry Ryder, 1824–1836, born in Streatham, Surrey, to a noble family. He studied at Cambridge and became Bishop of Gloucester in 1815. He was the first evangelical bishop and an inspiration to Cardinal John Henry Newman. Evangelicalism was part of the Revival Movement in which individuals could be ‘born again’. Essentially, you are justified by faith in Christ as taught in the Gospels and you turn away from sin. Ryder recognised the poor were usually shut out of churches and he started an intensive programme of building churches in Staffordshire, or adding galleries to increase the seating. Between 1831 and 1840, 34 new churches were built in Staffordshire and another 80 followed between 1841 and 1850. Many of the new churches were large and accommodated many worshippers.                                    An innovative bishop who must have struggled with many parishioners.

 

Samuel Butler, 1836–1839, was born in Kenilworth and educated at Rugby School and Cambridge. He majored in Latin and Greek and in 1798 at the age of 24 became headmaster of Shrewsbury school. He raised the profile of the school, but introduced changes which were much disliked. Darwin was a notable pupil who hated the rote learning. Discipline was poor and accommodation was spartan. He then became bishop and immediately lost Coventry in his title having it transferred to Worcester. He died of asthma in office.  A short-lived bishop with a controversial past.

 

James Bowstead, 1840–1843, born in Great Salkeld, Cumbria, and educated at Bampton Grammar and Cambridge where he became a tutor. He was nominated Bishop of Sodor and Man by Queen Victoria in 1838. Eighteen months later he was translated to Lichfield and decided to make his journey from Liverpool to Lichfield on horseback. On the way his horse stumbled causing him damage to his spine. It led to a long painful illness and eventually death. Most of the time he could not carry out his priestly duties.  An unwell bishop.

 

John Lonsdale, 1843–1867, born near Wakefield and educated at Eton and Cambridge. Admitted to Lincoln’s Inn, 1811. In 1815, was chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He became the precentor at Lichfield in 1828 and the first Principal of King’s College, London, in 1839. The hospital at the college was mostly founded by him. In 1843, he was the bishop on the recommendation of the Archbishop and the Bishop of London. Much of the restoration of the cathedral under G. Gilbert Scott was during his time. He also settled a dispute regarding the new Theological College, 1857. All the various statutes were brought together under his supervision for later revision, 1875 and 1905. Lonsdale continued the work of Bishop Ryder by building 150 new churches in diocese. He died in Eccleshall Castle. A High Church bishop who oversaw much repair and restoration of the cathedral. At his death he was said to be the best bishop the diocese had ever had, and was not likely to be surpassed. A model of justice, kindness, humility, and good sense with an undeviating attention to diocesan duty.

 

George Selwyn, 1868–1878, born in Hampstead and educated at Eton and Cambridge. In 1829, he rowed for Cambridge in the first ‘boat race’. He taught at Eton and was a curate at Windsor. In 1841, he was made Bishop of New Zealand. Selwyn travelled widely, often sailing himself, around the country visiting small missionary stations. He was of the High Church (Tractarian) view, but often appointed missionaries with low church persuasions. He also sailed to the Melanesian islands and introduced Christianity. By 1858, with extra bishops now appointed, Selwyn became the primate. He was slow to train and appoint Māori priests and was associated with events that suppressed the Māoris; this left a damaged relationship which is still expressed today. In 1867, he reluctantly accepted the bishopric of Lichfield. He is remembered for an updating of the organisation of the cathedral. For example, he reinstated the general chapter as a regular supervisory body for the cathedral. By1875, he had upgraded the statutes of the cathedral; some dated as far back as the seventeenth century. A mining disaster at Pelsall Hall in 1872 killed 22 miners and Selwyn and local clergy gave comfort to the families. He modernised the Bishop’s Palace in the Close having sold the palace at Eccleshall.  He died in the Cathedral Close Palace and was buried in the grounds of the Close. A monument was erected in the Lady Chapel sponsored from miners and their families. Selwyn College, Cambridge, was named after him followed by many colleges in New Zealand. A much-loved bishop in New Zealand whose legacy is both cherished and disputed. He led a life of hardship filled with difficulties of mission and yet gave comfort to those who suffered.

 

 

 

Medieval glass

             Medieval stained glass is coloured and painted glass dated 10th-century to the 16th-century. Only a small number of original stained windows has survived in England[1] and all the original cathedral glass windows were destroyed in the iconoclasm of the Civil War, 1643. Pikemen probably shattered the lower windows and musket and cannon balls the upper windows. It is thought fragments of early glass were kept and later placed in a window in St Michael’s Chapel within the south Transept. There are 12 small fragments surrounded by coloured glass.  

Window containing fragments of medieval glass, a little obscured by colours of the South Staffordshire regiment.

 

Some, possibly all,(2) are fragments left over from the Herkenrode collection, 1532–39. The top pair of fragments, a moon and sun, are possibly earlier (15th-century?),[3] though could have been part of a now missing Herkenrode crucifixion scene[4] representing the eclipse at the time of death.[5] There is a small roundel as part of a stained-glass window in the cathedral of St Steven, Bourges, France, dated 1210–15, showing a sun and moon above the arms of the cross. They symbolise the eclipse at the time of death and were a common motif in the 13th-century. There is a window at Hampton Court showing this motif.

Moon and Sun fragments.The moon fragment might have been repaired and altered.

 

Possible dove fragment.

 

Small clenched hand fragment.

Leaf fragment.

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[1] The oldest remaining glass in its original place in England survives in Canterbury Cathedral where it was placed in 1184. It is the Tree of Jesse Window. There are more examples of original glass in Wells Cathedral, York Minster and Westminster Abbey.

(2) H. Snowden Ward, Lichfield and its Cathedral: a brief history and guide. (London: 1892), 51.

[3] H. and P. Scaife, The stained glass of Lichfield Cathedral, Cathedral publication (2009) describe the sun and moon fragments as medieval glass.

[4] I. Lecocq and Y. Vanden Bemden, The stained glass of Herkenrode Abbey, (Oxford: 2021), 342–3 suggested this could be the case. Unfortunately, the fragments were not analysed.

[5] There is a paradox. The Herkenrode glass is unusual in not having a crucifixion scene, so a sun and moon fragment either shows this scene was lost with only bits retained or the sun and moon is from elsewhere.

Crossing tower

     Willis[1] dated the cathedral on architectural style and concluded the crossing tower was concurrent with the Early English western end of the choir (three bays). He dated the choir to the Early English period mostly by pier bases, but could not have known the nature of the bases of the large columns supporting the central tower. Since building the crossing tower must precede altering the choir substantially, it is inductive they must be concurrent.

Plan of the crossing, Willis (1861), with varied shading changed to colour. The four crossing columns are a mixture of four phases of construction, 1200, 1220, 1240 and 1250, and are shown consisting of work from the four phases. The greater part of the eastern side of the columns is Early English, the piers on their north and south sides are shown as late Early English and the nave side is labelled early Decorated. The dates given can only be approximations.

Willis could not have examined the crossing tower columns and his representation of the columns with different phases is about dating and not kind of stonework. The mixture is hidden by large banded shafts down the columns. It is possible the columns contain within them the remnants of the columns from the second cathedral.

Dufty^[2] thought the date of the central crossing was called into question by the survival on it of a roof crease of a nave he assigned to the 12th century. This crease appears on the outside of the west wall of the central crossing, in the north-west angle between tower and nave clearstory. He concluded there was a pre-13th century nave and together with the cathedral archive having mid-12th-century carved stones, meant building was very early. Indeed, could this be from the second cathedral? 

The author cannot find this crease, but there is a roll moulding on the wall at the height mentioned which can be seen from inside the north transept on the corner of the crossing tower and nave. It is absent on the corresponding wall in the south transept.

Clifton[3] described a housing roll on the west face of the crossing tower within the nave roof vault which covered the join of a nave roof to the tower to prevent water ingress. He thought this showed a nave roof for a Norman second cathedral. Clearly, there are complexities to the west wall of the crossing tower.

South-west crossing tower column.

     Rodwell[4] in 1987 and subsequent articles reasoned the Early English choir was built in the last quarter of the 11th-century[5] and later a great alteration to the choir and presbytery were the starting points for the current, third cathedral. He dated the reconstruction of the choir as being, c. 1170–1200, and undertaken in three stages.[6]  He then thought the crossing was built c. 1200–1220 followed by the chapel(s) on the south side of the choir. There was no interval in this order. With this sequence the crossing tower is not concurrent with the choir alteration. It is unclear why the eastern wing of the cathedral should be substantially altered before the crossing tower was built.

            Maddison,[7] 1993, began with his assertion the remodelling of the east end was designed by the same master as the building of the crossing tower because of a similarity of detail, though little detail was mentioned. He accepted the choir and crossing tower at Lichfield were contemporaneous. He also found a correspondence of the tower with the spire of Ashbourne church[8]  based on shapes of plinth, arcade and jamb mouldings. This church probably dates around two decades later. Maddison assumed the spire was part of the main tower build and connected much of the work to Bishop Walter De Langton’s episcopate. He envisaged much building around 1315 including the north-west front tower, completion of the crossing tower, final remodelling of the choir and the beginning of the Lady Chapel. The three ‘high steeples’ were on by 1323 as noted in the diary of pilgrims Simon Simeon and Hugh the Illuminator,[9] which means the construction was both extensive and relatively rapid, 1315–1323.

            Rodwell in 1990[10] conducted a close examination of the stone in the tower, from above the roof ridges to below the parapets, and concluded the upper part of the tower and the spire belong to the same phase of construction. He was surprised how much of the original medieval belfry stage of the tower remained intact. The east face was best preserved, with about 90% survival, the north face was the next best, at about 70%, whereas the south and west faces were poorly preserved, with only 25-30% survival. There was much rebuild in the 17th-century after the Civil War. The amount of visible Civil War damage (grapeshot and cannon balls) seems to have been similar on the north, south and east faces, but there was virtually none on the west.[11] In the 19th-century the south-west turret and pinnacle were completely rebuilt, large parts of the south and west sides were refaced and the parapets were renewed. There were at least two Victorian restorations of the tower.

Drawing of the central tower by S. Shaw (1798) and by Britton (1820). The spire is 77 m (252 feet) high.

 

            It is clear dating the crossing tower is imprecise. Its start of construction was either late 12th-century or more likely early 13th-century and was contiguous with the squaring of the choir and presbytery. Published dates for rebuilding the eastern arm vary between c. 1195 and 1210.[12] The four supporting pillars and vaulted roof must have been in place before the transepts were completed, 1220 for the south side. A small square room above the vaulted roof of the crossing was added at the time of the nave being constructed and the choir roof was being finished in order to attach all roofs to the crossing. Holes in the wall suggest there were corbels to hold a wooden roof above this room. Early in the 14th-century (1315?) two more storeys were added to the tower and then an octagonal spire built. There are indications some changes had to be made soon afterwards. Perhaps, the central tower was a belfry before the south-west tower was completed internally.

    There are similarities between the central tower and the equivalent at Hereford Cathedral. This includes buttresses and parapets. Both upper parts could have been built around 1320.

   See the post, ‘Third cathedral dates’, for the background history to the building of the cathedral. See the post ‘Third cathedral, dates and conjecture’ for a summary of the problems with dating.

    It is said the cathedral is in the shape of a cross and this was a recollection of crucifixion. This is untrue; the side arms or transepts buttress the massive central tower. The Greek cross shape is necessary for supporting the crossing tower. Generally, churches without a central tower have small side chapels and are not cruciform in shape. At Lichfield the four arms of the cathedral buttress the crossing tower and this was insufficient. The tower is built with two shells, an outer wall which has needed much restoration and an inner wall. This gives strength without needing extra large stone which would have been difficult to raise in height.

    What is the purpose of the central tower?

There are several hypothetical answers; here is one. Early churches in the Middle East were built as domes above a square base. The worshipper would look upwards when at the central, sacred part of the church. The Greeks also built domed churches, but added side chambers. The Italians and then the French had a mix of domed churches with some later having a central tower area with extensions to the western door and eastern apse. The English built few domed churches but instead had massive central towers, usually with steeples. Towers were also moved to the western end. The central tower has become a place of sanctuary, storage and belfry. It has also been a lookout.    

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[1] R. Willis, R. On foundations of early buildings recently discovered in Lichfield Cathedral. The Archaeological Journal, XVIII, (1861), 1--24.

[2] A. R. Dufty, ' Lichfield Cathedral.' The Archaeological Journal, 120 (Report of the Summer Meeting of the Royal Archaeological Institute at Keele in 1963), (1963),  293--295.

[3] A. B. Clifton, The Cathedral church of Lichfield. (London: 1900), 36.

[4] W. Rodwell, The Norman Quire of Lichfield Cathedral. Its plan and liturgical arrangement. Lichfield: 50th Annual Report of Friends of Lichfield Cathedral. (1987)

[5] Ibid, from the scanty historical records Rodwell placed the building date of the choir as soon after 1085.

[6] W. Rodwell, ' The development of the choir of Lichfield Cathedral: Romanesque and Early English'. In: J. Maddison, ed. XIII Medieval archaeology and architecture at Lichfield. Leeds: The British Archaeological Association, (1993), 22–29.

[7] J. Maddison, ‘Building at Lichfield Cathedral during the episcopate of Walter Langton, 1296–1321.’ In Medieval archaeology and architecture at Lichfield, XIII, The British Archaeological Association, (1993), 76.

[8] St Oswald’s church, Ashbourne, began to be constructed in the 1220s and the tower and spire were completed by c. 1330. That makes it around 20 years later than the dates given by Willis. The Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield dedicated the church in 1241 which suggests a link with the cathedral.

[9] M. Esposito, ‘The Pilgrimage of Symon Semeonis: A Contribution to the History of Medieval Travel’ The Geographical Journal (1917), 51, 77–96.

[10] W. Rodwell, ‘Central Tower Recording: A Progress Note,’ letter to the Dean and Chapter held in the Cathedral Library, (1990).

[11] Could this mean the Parliamentarian bombardment from the west concentrated on the west front?

[12] See Willis 1861, 10; Anon. Illustrations: Lichfield Cathedral, in (ed.) H. H. Statham, The Builder, February 7, (1891), 60, 108‑9 and W. Rodwell, (1993) 17, see note 4.  The author prefers a later date of c. 1208, to fit in better with the history of bishops and the machinations of King John.