Lichfield Cathedral facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lichfield Cathedral
Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Chad
The West Front of Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral Location in Staffordshire
52°41′08″N 1°49′50″W / 52.6855°N 1.8305°W / 52.6855; -1.8305
Location	Lichfield, Staffordshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic
Tradition	High church
History
Status	Active
Architecture
Functional status	Cathedral
Style	Gothic
Years built	c. 1195–1340
Specifications
Length	113 m (371 ft)
Nave width	21 m (69 ft)
Width across transepts	50 m (160 ft)
Height	76.8 m (252 ft) (central spire)
Number of towers	3
Number of spires	3
Spire height	76.8 m (252 ft) (crossing), 60.5 m (198 ft) (western)
Administration
Diocese	Lichfield (since 787–1075, c.1200–)
Province	Canterbury

Lichfield Cathedral is a beautiful old church in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It's special because it's one of only three cathedrals in the whole United Kingdom with three tall spires. It's also the only one of those built in medieval times.

The cathedral belongs to the Church of England. It serves the Diocese of Lichfield, which covers a large area including Staffordshire and parts of Shropshire. It's also the main church for the Bishop of Lichfield, who is currently Michael Ipgrave. The cathedral is a very important historic building, listed as Grade I.

About Lichfield Cathedral

The cathedral is named after Saint Chad and Saint Mary. It is about 113 meters (370 feet) long inside. The main part, called the nave, is 21 meters (69 feet) wide.

The tallest spire in the middle is 77 meters (253 feet) high. The two spires at the west end are about 58 meters (190 feet) tall. The cathedral is built from sandstone that came from a local quarry.

Some of the walls in the nave lean out a little. This is because of the heavy stone ceiling. During repairs, about 200–300 tons of stone were removed from the ceiling to stop the walls from leaning more.

Stained Glass Windows

Lichfield Cathedral was badly damaged during the English Civil War. All its original stained glass windows were broken. But today, the windows in the Lady Chapel have some amazing medieval glass.

This glass came from an Abbey called Herkenrode in Belgium. It was made in the 1530s. A man named Brooke Boothby bought it in 1801 when the abbey closed during the Napoleonic Wars. He then sold it to the cathedral for the same price.

The cathedral also has beautiful windows from the 1800s. Many of these were designed by Charles Eamer Kempe.

The Lichfield Gospels

The Lichfield Gospels are also known as the Book of Chad. This ancient book contains parts of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It was written around 730 AD, mostly in Latin, with some early Welsh text.

Originally, there were two volumes, but one went missing during the English Civil War. This manuscript looks very similar in style to the famous Lindisfarne Gospels. You can see the Lichfield Gospels on display in the Chapter House from Easter until Christmas.

Cathedral Close

The area around the cathedral, called the Cathedral Close, is one of the most complete in England. It has a medieval courtyard that used to house the men of the choir. The three spires of the cathedral are often called the "Ladies of the Vale."

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  Ground plan of the cathedral

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  Aerial view, June 2020

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  Exterior from the NE

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  The Cathedral Close, Lichfield

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  The cathedral choir

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  The high altar

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  Above the ornate south doorway of Lichfield Cathedral stand seven figures carved in Roman cement. Figures from left to right, representing: Saints Augustine of Hippo, Jerome, Ambrose of Milan, Gregory the Great, John Chrysostom, Athanasius and Basil.

History of the Cathedral

Early Beginnings

The cathedral's Choir, built around 1200

When Chad became the Bishop of Mercia in 669, he moved his church to Lichfield. This might have been because the area was already considered a holy place. The first cathedral on this spot was built around 700 AD by Bishop Headda. He built it to keep the bones of Saint Chad, which had become a special shrine for many visitors.

The Archbishopric of Lichfield

Around 786, Offa, who was the King of Mercia, wanted his own archbishop. He didn't like his bishops reporting to the Archbishop of Canterbury. So, with permission from Pope Adrian, Offa created a new archbishopric in Lichfield. This new archbishop would be in charge of all the bishops from the Humber River to the Thames River.

This idea was strongly opposed, but King Offa and the Pope's representatives succeeded. Higbert became the new Archbishop of Lichfield. The Pope even sent Higbert a special cloth called a pallium to show his support. In return, Offa promised to send gold to the Pope every year. However, the Archbishopric of Lichfield only lasted for 16 years. It ended soon after Offa died, and the power returned to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Building the Gothic Cathedral

From 1085 through the 1100s, the original wooden Saxon church was replaced. A new cathedral made of stone was built in the Norman style. This was then replaced by the beautiful Gothic cathedral you see today.

Construction of the current cathedral began in 1195. It was finished around 1330 with the building of the Lady Chapel. The Choir section was built around 1200. The Transepts were added between 1220 and 1240. The Nave started in 1260.

The octagonal Chapter House was finished in 1249. It's known for its lovely stone carvings. This is where the famous Lichfield Gospels are displayed.

Damage During the English Civil War

Between 1643 and 1646, Lichfield Cathedral faced three major attacks. The cathedral close (the area around the church) was like a fortress, surrounded by a ditch and walls. The people in charge of the cathedral supported King Charles I, but most of the townspeople supported Parliament. This led to the close being fortified in 1643.

During one attack, Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke, who was leading the Parliament forces, was killed. This happened on March 2, 1643. His deputy, John Gell, took over and the Royalist soldiers surrendered a few days later.

In April 1643, Prince Rupert led Royalist forces to take back Lichfield. During this attack, Rupert's engineers used what is thought to be the first explosive mine in England to break through the defenses. The Parliament commander surrendered on April 21.

The cathedral was badly damaged during these wars. The central spire was destroyed, the roofs were ruined, and all the stained glass was smashed. Bishop Hacket started repairing the cathedral in the 1660s. He received a lot of money from the king to help. However, it took until the 1800s for all the damage from the Civil War to be fully fixed.

Victorian Restoration

The 1700s were a good time for the city of Lichfield, but the cathedral itself was falling apart. The old library was taken down, and its books were moved. Many statues on the west front were removed, and the stone was covered with a type of cement.

At the end of the century, James Wyatt did some big structural work. He moved the High Altar and added a large stone screen.

In the Victorian era, the beautiful west front was greatly repaired by George Gilbert Scott. He worked to restore the many carved figures of kings, queens, and saints. He used original materials when possible and created new ones when needed. Between 1877 and 1884, new statues were placed in the empty spaces on the west front. The statue of Queen Victoria was even carved by her daughter, Princess Louise.

Scott also designed a new metal screen for the choir, which is a great example of Victorian art. The beautiful Mintons tiles in the choir were inspired by medieval tiles found in the cathedral's foundations.

The Lichfield Angel

The Lichfield Angel carving

In February 2003, an amazing discovery was made under the nave of the cathedral. It was an eighth-century carved stone panel of the Archangel Gabriel. This panel is 600mm (about 2 feet) tall and made of limestone.

It was originally part of a stone chest that might have held the relics (remains) of Saint Chad. The panel was broken into three pieces but was otherwise complete. It even had traces of red paint from its original time. The colors on the Lichfield Angel are very similar to those found on the Lichfield Gospels, which date to around 730 AD.

The Angel was first shown to the public in 2006. After being studied in Birmingham for 18 months, it is now back on display in the cathedral.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

On January 15, 2021, while the cathedral was closed for services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it became the first place of worship in England to help with the vaccination program. It was used as a vaccination center.

Shrine of St Chad

On November 7 and 8, 2022, a new shrine for Saint Chad was blessed. A relic of the saint was moved from St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham to Lichfield Cathedral during two special services.

Music at the Cathedral

Lichfield Cathedral Organ

Lichfield Cathedral has a rich musical history.

Famous Organists

Some well-known organists of Lichfield Cathedral include Michael East, a composer from the 1600s. Another famous organist was William Henry Harris, a musical educator. He conducted music at the coronations of both Elizabeth II and George VI.

The Choir

The cathedral choir has six professional singers called Lay Vicars Choral. It also has 18 boy Choristers and up to 18 girl Choristers. They sing regularly for services.

Notable Burials

Many important people are buried at Lichfield Cathedral. These include:

• Chad of Mercia (c. 634–672) — a saint and early bishop. His relics were later moved to St Chad's Cathedral Birmingham.
• Walter Langton (1296–1321) — a powerful figure who was the Lord High Treasurer of England and a bishop.
• Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey (1768- 1854) — a cavalry officer who fought in the famous Battle of Waterloo.
• George Augustus Selwyn (1868–1878) — a bishop who was also the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand.

See also

In Spanish: Catedral de Lichfield para niños