HISTORY

FEATURES: Only medieval cathedral with three spires, remains of fortifications and once having a wet moat. Significant pilgrimage centre from early times. Owns the best kept sculpted Anglo-Saxon stonework in Europe. Has early 8th century Gospels. Extraordinary foundation remains to the second cathedral were probably built by King Offa. Once had the most sumptuous shrine in medieval England. Suffered three Civil War sieges resulting in considerable destruction.

Dates.

DATES. 656, first Bishop of Mercia. 669, first Bishop of Lichfield. 8th century shrine tower. Second cathedral could be 8th century, but needs determining. Third Gothic Cathedral, early 13th to 14th century. 1643 to 46, Civil War destruction. Extensive rebuild and refashioned, 1854-1908. Worship on this site started in 669, 1355 years ago.

Saturday, 15 February 2020

Lady Chapel reredos

            A gilded and painted wooden reredos in the form of a triptych (really 5 panels) was placed in the Lady Chapel in 1895. The altarpiece was carved by Oskar Zwink in Oberammergau, on the border of Germany and Austria. It was designed by Charles Eamer Kempe, 1837–1907, and tells the story of Christmas.

Triptych with five scenes of Christmas.

King David, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Chad are depicted on the back of the side panels and are seen when the triptych is closed. On the sides of the central panel are the figures of Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine and Gregory. 


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