Outstanding Features

Only medieval cathedral with three spires, was once the only fortress cathedral with a surrounding moat and is now a Victorian Gothic Revival building. A significant pilgrimage centre from early times. Has the best-kept Early Medieval stonework sculpture in Europe. Has a very early Gospels. Cells off the Lady Chapel might have been for anchorites. The chapel has 16th-century hand-painted Flemish glasswork. There is an extraordinary foundation to the second cathedral, probably built by King Offa. Once had the most sumptuous shrine in medieval England. Suffered three Civil War sieges, including a heavy bombardment. Has associations with Kings Henry III and Richard II. Only one of two cathedrals located on the same site as the original church.

Dates.

DATES. First Bishop of Mercia in 656. First Bishop of Lichfield in 669. Pilgrimage began 672, 1353 years ago. 8th century shrine tower. Second cathedral, possibly 8th century. Gothic Cathedral built c. 1210 to c.1340. Civil War destruction, 1643-6. Extensive rebuild and repair, 1854-1908.

Index of posts by date of publication.

2025 (1)

January 2025                 Fortress cathedral, 1640

2024 (14)

December 2024             Christmas - Christ's mass                                         

November 2024             West front including the singing windows

October 2024                A sacred landscape for the first cathedral

September 2024            Anchorites at Lichfield

August 2024                 Chad, fact and fiction.

July 2024                      King Richard II liked Lichfield

June 2024                     Wilfrid, creator of the first cathedral

May 2024                      Reformation

April 2024                     Easter Hoard Cross and Bishop Wilfrid

                                     Hoard Gold Cross: context, use and date.

March 2024                  St Chad's Gospels

February 2024              South Transept

                                     North Transept

January 2024                Bishop Langton's Palace

2023 (13)

December 2023             Wulfhere and Wilfrid, and later Bede, name Lichfield             

November 2023             Lichfield recasts its name

October 2023                Lichfield Angel.

September 2023           The incomparable apse of the second cathedral

August 2023                  Chad's relics

July 2023                       When the Vikings came

June 2023                      Pilgrimage defines the cathedral

May 2023                       Dating the cathedral

April 2023                      Two frescoes in the south aisle

March 2023                    King Henry III architect

February 2023               Current explanation for the name of Lichfield.

January 2023                 Second cathedral has a short-perch layout. It is Early Medieval.

2022 (16)

December 2022             Three conjectures on the early church

November 2022             Chad's grave-the evidence

                                       St Mary's church and a shrine tower.

October 2022                 It has to be the 'Lichfield Hoard'.

                                       Cross for a bishop of Mercia

September 2022            Lichfield cathedrals are not Norman, as are Wells and Salisbury

                                       Why the second cathedral must be Early Medieval.                              

August 2022                   Size matters for the third cathedral

July 2022                        Early churches and Medieval culture                                  

June 2022                      Understanding Chad's grave site. 

May 2022                       King Penda of Mercia deserves a statue

April 2022                       Herkenrode painted glass

March 2022                    Langton's shrine

February 2022               Reasons why Lichfield (Licitfelda) had approval

January 2022                 Mystery object is a handbell.

                                       Hoard Cross with writing

2021 (27)

December 2021             Baptism pre-Reformation

                                       Death and burial pre-Reformation                                       

November 2021             First Civil War siege of the Close, March 1643.

                                       Second siege, 7-21 April 1643.

                                       Third siege, March 8 - July 16 1646

                                       Civil War damage and restoration.

October 2021                 7th-century Lichfield and the residents.

                                       Archbishop of Lichfield (Hygeberht)

September 2021             Lichfield's founding myth - take it seriously.

                                        Chad, fantasy, folklore and maybe.

August 2021                    Chantries

                                        Penitence pre-Reformation

                                        Pre-Reformation Mass

July 2021                       12th-centuryLichfield.

June 2021                       Tomtun early settlement

                                        Three icons

May 2021                         John Wycliffe's New Testament

April 2021                        Was this an early settlement in Lichfield

                                         East-west alignment

March 2021                      Gothic Cathedral

                                         Victorian recovery

                                         James Wyatt's restoration, 1787-92

February 2021                  Old Library

                                         Franciscan Friary

January 2021                   Dissidents in the marketsquare.

                                         Plague on Lichfield

                                         The inquisition of Robert Glover - a Lollard martyr

2020 (17)

December 2020                Chapterhouse

November 2020                Nave

October 2020                   Organ                                      

September 2020               Sleeping children. Francis Chantrey.

                                          Skidmore's choir screen

August 2020                     South Staffordshire Regiments

July 2020                          Bishop Walter Langton- benefactor

                                          Higgins and Hacket, rebuilders of the cathedral

                                          Early Benefactors

June 2020                         Washing feet

                                          Illumination

                                          Bishop Meuland - an enigma

May 2020                          Choristers

April 2020                          Lady Chapel and Sainte-Chapelle?                                        

March 2020                      Early English Choir area

February 2020                   Mary Wortley Montagu                                          

January 2020                     Rooms south of the choir

2019 (12)

December 2019                 Bishops, 1070-1878                                          

November 2019                 Medieval glass

October 2019                     Crossing tower

September 2019                Priest's dress and Chad's appearance

August 2019                       Two early chapels

July 2019                            Beasts in the Lady Chapel

June 2019                           Building the cathedral

May 2019                            Prebendal Stalls

April 2019                            7 ages of Christian practice

March 2019                         Windows

February 2019                     Presbytery and altar

January 2019                       Ten difficulties understanding the cathedral

2018 (2)

December 2018                    Eight myths

November 2018                    History of the diocese

                     

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