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  An early settlement in Lichfield

·         King Penda ruled, c. 626–655, a greater Mercian kingdom.

·         7th century Lichfield and the residents.        

·         Bishop Diuma became the first bishop of Mercia,656–8.·       

      King Wulfhere’s place, Tomtun

·         Wulfhere and Wilfrid, and later Bede, name Lichfield.   Lichfield recasts its name. Reasons why Lichfield (Licitfelda) had approval

      Lichfield’s founding myth

       Three conjectures on the early church 

·         Chad arrived 669 and accepted as the first bishop of Lichfield. Chad's grave-the evidence.  Understanding Chad's grave site.

      Chad’s appearance and priest's dress.

      Folklore involving Chad  Chad, fact and fiction.

·       Wilfrid, creator of the first cathedral

·         Miracle stories recorded by Bede initiate pilgrimage. Pilgrimage became important.

·         Chad’s bones were translated at his grave and kept in a ‘wooden house’, Bede’s description. The grave and shrine was surrounded by a shrine tower, probably late-7th century or early 8th-century.  Chad's relics

·         St Chad’s gospels were written, 720–740 and placed on the altar table of St Peters.

·         Early Medieval churches at Lichfield were part of the prevailing culture. A sacred landscape for the first cathedral.

·         Offa enlarged Mercia, gained an archbishop and had a coronation of his son. This could be connected to the second cathedral, basilical in shape and remaining as a foundation under the choir and presbytery. The foundation has Early Medieval dimensions; it was not Norman.  Archbishop Hygeberht, 787-803.

·         Offa replaced the ‘wooden house’ with a shrine-chest highly sculptured with an angel.

·         874 Viking marauders probably attacked Licetfelda; little is known.

·         The St Chad Gospels were taken to Carmarthen, Wales, for safe-keeping.

·         At the same time an archive of valuables is secretly buried 4 miles away and became known as the Staffordshire Hoard.

·         c. 960 the Gospels were returned.

·         Before the millennium, or 1033, the expected ‘End Times’, a collection of relics is archived. They were kept in a chapel, probably on the south side of the choir of the second cathedral. The remains of 3 Early Medieval arches in the wall are still visible.

N   Lichfield cathedrals are not Norman, as are Wells and Salisbury  The incomparable apse of the second cathedral.

      12th-century Lichfield

       Building the cathedral

·         Late-11th or early 12th-century another chapel was added to the east end of the second cathedral. This could have held for a short time the relics of Chad.

·         The west end of the choir was Early English in architectural style for late-12th or early 13th-century. The base of piers dates west end of the choir.

·         Late 12th-century, or more likely around 1215, the apsidal second cathedral was extended eastwards and made rectangular. The small chapel was reduced to a foundation.

·       Dating the cathedral

        Crossing tower

        The cathedral was built in a Gothic architectural style. King Henry III architect

        East-west alignment

       Illumination

·         c. 1220 the lower part of the central tower and south transept of the third cathedral were built.

·         At the same time the chapel on the side of the choir was altered to give a small sacristy and treasury between the chapel and the transept.

·         Chantry chapels appeared in the cathedral.

       Prebendal Stalls 

      Anchorites at Lichfield

·         c. 1237 Franciscan Friary possibly started in the town.

·         c. 1240 the north transept was built together with the vestibule off the north choir aisle.  

      Pedilavium and washing feet, 1240s.

·         1249 the chapterhouse was added.

·         c. 1240–c.1285 the nave was built. Much was overseen by Bishop Meuland.

·         A two storied building on the north side of the nave was built to house the records of the cathedral.

·         Choristers were singing around 1265. 1325 Lay-Vicars added to the choir.       

·         1299 Bishop Langton completed a new palace in the Close.

·         c. 1307 Bishop Langton commissioned a new shrine for Chad. Langton gave much to the cathedral.

·         c. 1310 west front and singing windows. 

·         By 1323 the three spires are known to have been in place according to a pilgrim’s diary.

·         1320s third cathedral was completed. It is small.

·         1315–1336 the Lady Chapel was added to the east end. Beasts in the Lady Chapel

·         1349 outbreak of plague – Black Death. Further outbreaks followed.

·         Late 14th-century changes were made to the west door with an atrium built.

·        King Richard II liked Lichfield

·         1410 John Wycliffe translated the Latin bible. A copy is in the cathedral library.

·         1482  Organ

·          14th or 15th century Two frescoes in the south aisle

·         16th-century the lower room of the side chapel to the choir was used as a Consistory Court. Its undercroft was sometimes used for custody.

·         1538 King’s Commissioners removed most of Chad’s shrine and other valuables. Reformation.

·         1534–1550 the new Anglican cathedral changed forms of worship. Chantry chapels and icons were removed. Much belonging to the Catholic church was removed.

·         1550s dissidents were burned in the market square. Robert Glover, 1555.   

       Fortress cathedral,1640 

·         1643 the first siege of the cathedral by Parliamentarians in the Civil War.

·         1443 April second siege by the Royalists.

·         1646 last of three sieges by the Parliamentarians wrecked the cathedral.

·         1661–1670 the frame of the cathedral was repaired with many parts rebuilt. Statues on the west front were added. Higgins and Hacket, rebuilders of the cathedral

·         1670–1854 only the isolated inner church was in use.

       Mary Wortley pioneer, c. 1718.

·         1787–92 James Wyatt altered the cathedral including the choir and pews extended into the Lady Chapel.

·         1788 most of the nave roof was replaced with a light-weight alternative.

       South Staffordshire Regiments

·         1803 Herkenrode glass, 1532–9, was added to the mullions of the Lady Chapel.

       Medieval glass.

       19th century Windows

·         1818 Chantrey’s ‘Sleeping Children’ monument was placed in the cathedral.

·         1854–1907 much of the cathedral was reordered in a Victorian Gothic style. Pilgrimage restarted. The nave was restored in 1854. Presbytery and altar

·         1861 a metal screen between the nave and choir was installed.

·         1895 a carved reredos was placed in the Lady Chapel.

·         2016–2018 three icons were painted and displayed in the nave.

·         2022 a new shrine in the retroquire was added together with a Chad relic. 

           Pilgrimage defines the cathedral History of the diocese

      EXTRAS

 Pre-Reformation, 13th-16th century, worship

Baptism

Christmas

Mass

Penitence

Death and Burial 

Bishops 

Bishops, 1070-1878

 Staffordshire Hoard

It has to be the Lichfield hoard.

Cross for a bishop

Easter Hoard Cross and Bishop Wilfrid. Hoard Gold Cross: context, use and date

Cross stem with writing.

Mystery object is a handbell.