St Mary's Church, Lichfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Lichfield |
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| 52°41′01″N 1°49′39″W / 52.683561°N 1.827403°W | |
| Location | Lichfield, Staffordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architect(s) | James Fowler |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1870 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 55m |
| Materials | Rock-faced Derbyshire sandstone with ashlar dressings |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Lichfield |
| Diocese | Lichfield |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary's Church is a famous building in the centre of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It stands on the south side of the market square. People believe a church has been on this spot since at least 1150. However, the building you see today was finished in 1870. It is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic place. In the 1980s and late 1990s, the church was changed inside. Now, it's used for many things. The ground floor is home to Lichfield Library and the Tourist Information Centre. Upstairs, The Hub at St Mary's has a coffee shop, an art gallery, and a space for performances.
Contents
The Church's Long History
The First Churches
The St Mary's Church you see now is actually the fourth church built on this site. The very first church was likely built around 1150. This was when the town of Lichfield was first planned. We know for sure it existed by the 13th century.
In 1291, a big fire destroyed most of Lichfield, including its churches. St Mary's was rebuilt in the 14th century. This new church had a main area, side aisles, a tower, and a tall spire. The tower was probably built in 1356. At this time, St Mary's became very important. It was the church for the guild of St Mary and St John the Baptist. A guild was like a club or a group of people who worked together. This guild helped run the city until 1538.
From the 1600s, the north side of the church became the burial place for the Dyott family. They owned a nearby estate called Freeford Manor. Today, the church still has a special chapel for the Dyott family on its north side.
The tower and spire of the medieval church often had problems. The spire fell down in 1594 and again in 1626. Even after many repairs, it fell a third time in 1716. This last collapse led to the church being rebuilt completely.
The church's old records start from 1566. One famous entry is the baptism of Samuel Johnson. He was a very important writer. His baptism happened when the medieval church was still standing.
A New Look: The Neoclassical Church (1721–1868)
After the spire fell in 1716, people decided to tear down the old medieval church. A new church was designed by an architect named Francis Smith of Warwick. This new church was built in a Neoclassical style. This style used ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The money for the new church came from public donations.
The new church was finished in 1721, after five years of building. Samuel Johnson, the famous writer, would have been a young child living near the church during this time. The main part of the church was built with bricks. The old medieval tower was kept, but its spire was removed. The tower was then covered in stucco to match the new building.
In the early 1800s, more repairs were done. In 1820, the brick outside of the church was also covered in stucco.
By the mid-1800s, people wanted to rebuild the church again. They wanted it to be in a Victorian Gothic style. This style was popular at the time and looked like medieval churches. The new building would also honor a former vicar, Rev. Henry Lonsdale, who had died in 1851.
In 1853, the tower was made shorter and changed to a Victorian Gothic style. A new steeple was added, designed by George Edmund Street. He also drew plans for the main part of the church. But there wasn't enough money at the time. So, the main church building wasn't demolished until 1868. For 15 years, the church looked a bit strange. It had a Gothic tower and spire, but the main body was still in the older Neoclassical style.
The Church Today (1870 – Present)
The church building you see today was finished in 1870. It was built with Derbyshire sandstone in the Victorian Gothic style. The architect was James Fowler. The Lonsdale family helped pay for much of the building.
When it was finished, the church had a main area, the Dyott family chapel, and the tower and spire from 1853. The lower part of the tower, which was very old, was almost completely rebuilt. Later, in the early 1900s, Charles Bateman added some colorful decorations inside.
Over time, fewer people lived in Lichfield city centre. Many moved to the suburbs. Shops and businesses took over the city centre. This meant fewer people attended St Mary's Church. It was a very large church, big enough for 900 people, but it was no longer needed for just worship.
By the 1970s, a group was formed to save the historic building. They wanted to stop it from being left empty or torn down. Their idea was to turn it into a multi-purpose building. It would serve the community in the heart of the city. The plan was to have five parts: a social centre for older people, a coffee shop, a gift shop, a heritage exhibition, and the Dyott Chapel would stay as a place for worship.
Work to change the church began in 1978. It was finished in December 1980. The new community centre opened on May 30, 1981.
In 2018, a big renovation project started, costing £1.8 million. St Mary's reopened with a new focus. It aims to be a place for everyone in the community. Downstairs, you'll find the new Lichfield Library with thousands of books. Upstairs, there's a space used for community events, music, performances, and many other activities.
The old church areas of St Mary's and St Michael on Greenhill were combined. Now, St Michael's is the main parish church. St Mary's is a "Chapel of Ease," meaning it's a smaller church used for occasional services. These churches, along with St John's at Wall, form a group called the United Benefice. Services still happen sometimes in the Dyott Chapel at St Mary's.
