Skip to content

Increase font size Default font size Decrease font size
Basket Empty UserLogin 
Home InSpires Cathedral Treasures
Cathedral Treasures Print E-mail

Lichfield AngelThe Lichfield Angel

Discovered in 2003 the Lichfield Angel is a remarkable survival of early medieval sculpture. The carved limestone panel, which is dated to around 800 A.D., comprises three separate fragments which are thought to have formed the corner of a shrine chest, possibly that of St Chad (d.672).

gospel_icon.jpgThe Chad Gospels

Also known as the Lichfield Gospels, this is an eighth century Gospel Book. There are 236 surviving folios, eight of which are illuminated. Another four contain framed text. The manuscript is also important because it includes, as marginalia, some of the earliest known examples of written Welsh. Why not turn the pages of the gospel online?

The Chad Gospels are not displayed in the Chapter House during Lent. They will be available to view there once more from Easter Day. Meanwhile, visitors have the opportunity to see a first edition copy of Henry VIII's Great Bible (1539) instead – a centrepiece of the English Reformation.

herckenrode_icon.jpgHerkenrode Glass

The windows of the Lady Chapel contain some of the finest medieval Flemish painted glass in existence. It came from the Abbey of Herkenrode (now in Belgium) in 1801 having been purchased by Brooke Boothby when that abbey was dissolved during the Napoleonic Wars. It was then sold on to the cathedral for the same price. It dates from the 1530s.

For more information and photographs on the windows we have a publication called 'Herkenrode Windows' which can be purchased at the Cathedral Bookshop for £3.99.

Herkenrode Glass major disruption

The Race to Save the Herkenrode Glass

Donate online »

InSpires News

Chapter and The Dean of Lichfield, Adrian Dorber, held a film screening of The Race to Save the Herkenrode Glass on Saturday 24th October 2009 at 11.00am in Lichfield Cathedral.

The film was made by the BBC historian Michael Wood, and his wife Rebecca Dobbs, to highlight the importance of the conservation of the glass and stonework in the Cathedral.

The event was attended by over 250 people and included members of the congregation, previous visitors to the Cathedral, historians, glass and stone work enthusiasts. The Very Revd. Adrian Dorber, started the proceedings by introducing The Earl of Lichfield, who also took part in the film, Michael Wood then introduced the short film in which he traces the history and significance of the glass as well as the intricacies of the preservation processes for both the glass and masonry over the next five years. After the film Christine King, Vice Chancellor of Staffordshire University, gave a captivating speech on the glass and why we need to ensure we save the glass for the future. The Very Revd. Adrian Dorber ended the proceedings with a presentation of a carved piece of stonework to Michael as a thank you for the film.
Read more...