These are a selection of some of the questions the Cathedral receives
more regularly. If you still cannot find an answer to your question,
you can always contact the Chapter Office.
- Miscellaneous
- Visiting
- History
Miscellaneous
What is a Prebendary? 
In the immediate post-apostolic age there was apparently a Presbyter-Bishop (or a team of presbyters) over each church. This pattern gradually gave way to one in which a Bishop oversaw several churches, with one as his See Church, containing his chair or ‘cathedra’. It is from this that our Cathedrals derive their name and origin.
In due course, many Cathedrals became monasteries, but in England and Wales thirteen did not. In Cathedrals which were also monastaries, it was easy to maintain a regular round of daily worship. The other non-monastic or ‘secular’ Cathedrals, of which Lichfield was one, faced more of a challenge. They made the offering of daily worship to God by the appointment of ‘prebendaries’, vicars choral and choristers. William of Malmesbury claims that this was done at Lichfield in 818 A.D., but whether this is correct or not, Roger de Clinton in 1129 founded or re-founded most of the present stalls.
A ‘prebendary’ derived his income mainly from the parish, chapelry or hamlet from which his prebend ( or ‘stipend’) took its name. In return he took a turn in leading worship in the Cathedral and provided for a ‘vicar choral’ to sing the services.
Many important places in the diocese are not named in the prebendary stalls. In some cases (Wolverhampton, Tettenhall and Penkridge), this is because the towns developed ‘collegiate’ churches with Deans and prebendaries of their own. Others (like Burton, Leek and Stone) were monastic communities in their own right, and still others (like Cannock and Rugeley) made separate arrangements with the Cathedral Dean and Chapter.
At the Reformation there was little change in secular Cathedrals, such as Lichfield. They are called ‘Cathedrals of the Old Foundation’, as distinct from those which, with the dissolution of the monasteries, had to be re-founded and are therefore called of the New Foundation.
All property and income was taken from the prebends in the last century, but the Church Commissioners, who now have the income, maintain the chancels of the former prebendal churches. A prebendary, although unpaid, is still a beneficed clergyman with duties represented by occasional preaching and by his attendance at Greater Chapter.
Are there any other Cathedrals with three spires?
Lichfield is the only medieval English Cathedral with three spires.
Truro Cathedral, and the Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh have three
spires but both were built in the 19th century.
How tall are the spires?
The central spire is 77m (252') high and the western spires about 58m (190') high.
How many statues are there on the West Front?
There are 113 statues on the West Front, but only four are medieval.
The rest were carved towards the end of the 19th century as the
original statues had become very worn and most were removed in the 18th
century.
How big is the Cathedral?
Lichfield is one of England's smaller Cathedrals. It measures 113m
(370') in length from inside the West Door to the extreme end of the
Lady Chapel. It is only 21m (68') wide.
What is the Chapter House?
It is one of only twelve surviving medieval chapter houses, and is the
place where the Cathedral Dean and Canons met. Octagonal in shape with
fine vaulting, it is still used for meetings of the College of Canons.
The eighth century Lichfield Gospels manuscript is displayed there and
there is a medieval wall painting of the Assumption. Today it also
hosts occassional art exhibitions.
The St Chad Gospels is a manuscript copy of the gospels of Matthew and Mark, and the
early part of Luke, written in Latin and dating from around 730. There
were originally two volumes but one went missing around the time of the
Civil War. It is closely related in style to the Lindisfarne Gospels.
The manuscript is on display in the Chapter House from Easter to
Christmas.
Does the Cathedral have any silver on display?
Yes. A fine collection of modern silver, commissioned by the Dean and
Chapter around 1990, can be seen in the Consistory Court along with
some earlier pieces commissioned by Bishop Hacket after the Civil War,
and the Cathedral's eighteenth and nineteenth century collection.
Can you tell me about your organ?
The removal of Samuel Green's organ of 1789 as part of Gilbert Scott's
great restoration work resulted in the provision of a fine new organ by
Holdich in 1863. In 1884 William Hill and Son completely rebuilt the
organ, but its unsatisfactory position in the North Transept resulted
in a major restoration in 1908 when a new organ chamber was built on
the north side of the choir at triforium level. Some rebuilding took
place in 1974 by Hill, Norman & Beard, and a complete restoration
was carried out in 1999/2000 by Harrison and Harrison with the aim of
returning the organ as far as possible to its 1908 integrity, but with
a new nave organ extension. The 2000 organ has 83 speaking stops and
5,038 pipes. Full details of the Cathedral organ can be found on the Cathedral Choir website.
Do you have any interesting stained 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. There are also some fine windows by Betton and Evans (1819), and
many fine late 19th century windows, particularly those by Charles
Eamer Kempe.
What can you tell me about the tombs and memorials?
There are so many that it is not possible to describe them all here, but do not miss Chantrey's Sleeping Children
in the South Choir Aisle or the tomb of Bishop Hacket who was
responsible for the restoration of the Cathedral after the Civil War,
and the remnant of Dean Heywode's monument from the sixteenth century
in the North transept.
Can you tell me about your bells?
The ten bells hung in the southwest tower are one of the finest peals
in the country. They were cast by bellfounders John Taylor & Co. of
Loughborough in 1947 and given by the Freemasons of Staffordshire to
commemorate the 750th anniversary of the Cathedral. The wooden frame of
1688 was retained. The tenor is the heaviest bell, weighing 3,537 lbs
(1.6 tonnes).
Can I get married at the Cathedral?
Not unless you are a regular member of the congregation or live in the Close.
What is the difference between a Cathedral and a church?
The Cathedral is the cathedra or seat of the Bishop of the Diocese and
the mother church of the Diocese of Lichfield. The Bishop will normally
preside at Easter and Christmas services. It has services like any
parish church, but also has many special services for organisations
throughout the Diocese. It is also where great diocesan events are
held, such as the annual ordination services.
How can I look up records of my ancestors who have Lichfield connections?
Contact the Lichfield Record Office (part of the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Archive Service) on 01543 510720.
What stone was used to build the Cathedral?
The stone is sandstone and came from a quarry on the south side of
Lichfield. This quarry was exhausted a long time ago and new sandstone
is now ordered from Corse Hill in Dumfries and Galloway as it provides
the closest match to the original.
The stone is very black in places, why is it not cleaned?
Sandstone is very soft and cleaning it would cause damage. The
prevailing wind from the south-west carried pollutants from the old
Black Country industries north of Birmingham. Ironically the reddest
stone is the oldest.
Visiting
Can I visit your Library?
Access to the Library can only be gained with special permission -
contact the Librarian in writing; or as part of a special tour - please
contact the Visits Officer.
When can I visit the Cathedral?
Lichfield Cathedral is open from 7.30am every day of the year and
closes at 6.15pm. During the summer months (Easter to September) it
remains open until 7.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Where can I park?
There is no parking in the Cathedral Close but there are a number of
car parking facilities within a few minutes walk of the Cathedral.
Do I have to pay to enter?
No, but we do ask you to consider a donation to help with the running
costs of the Cathedral. We suggest £3.00 for adults, but give whatever
you can. If you are a UK taxpayer please use the green gift aid
envelopes as we can claim back 28p from the Chancellor of the Exchequer
for every £1 given. Visiting groups should contact the Visits Officer on 01543 306240.
Can a guide show me around?
The Cathedral is staffed by Vergers and there are Welcomers on duty
through most of the day who can answer your questions. There are free
guided tours starting at 2.00pm on Mondays to Saturdays, and at 1.30pm
on Sundays. The tours all start from the West End of the Cathedral, and
run from Easter until the end of September.
How do I get to Lichfield?
Lichfield is in the heart of the Midlands about 17 miles north east of
Birmingham. It is also very conveniently situated close to the main
motorway network. We are about 17 miles north of the M6 motorway and
close to the M42. There is a regular train service (about every 20
minutes) from Birmingham New Street to Lichfield City station. Mainline
services also serve Lichfield Trent Valley on the Euston/Glasgow line.
The nearest airports are Birmingham International and East Midlands,
both within about 45 minutes drive of the City.
Can I get something to eat at the Cathedral?
The Cathedral Coffee Shop is open for hot freshly cooked meals as well
as snacks from 9.30am to 4.45pm Monday to Saturday, and from 12.00pm
until 4.45pm on Sundays. Booking is advisable for a meal on Sundays:
the telephone number is 01543 306125. The Coffee Shop is open every day
except Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Is there a Cathedral Shop?
We have two book and gift shops: one in the Cathedral and the main shop opposite the West Front at 9 The Close.
Where can I stay in Lichfield?
We suggest you consult the Lichfield District Council site or contact the Tourist Information Centre on 01543 412112, or by
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.
Can I do brass rubbings?
We do not have brasses to rub in the Cathedral, but you can arrange to rub reproduction brasses at the Visitors' Centre.
How can I support the Cathedral and its work?
Why not join the Friends of the Cathedral? They can be contacted c/o
The Chapter Office, 19A The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7LD
or by telephone: 01543 306120
What else can I see in Lichfield?
Do walk around the Cathedral Close, one of the finest and most complete
in the country. Visit Vicars' Close where the men who sang the services
used to live, and Darwin Close, which gives access to the Erasmus Darwin Centre.
Visit the Lichfield District web site for details of: St Mary's Heritage Centre, Samuel Johnson's Birthplace, Staffordshire Regiment Museum, and St Chad's Church with its ancient well. available in the Cathedral Shop will tell you more about the Close.
History
What happened to the Cathedral during the Civil War?
There were three sieges of Lichfield during the period 1643-46 as the
Cathedral was surrounded by a ditch and defensive walls, and made a
natural fortress. The Royalists were defeated in March 1643, and the
Parliamentarians a month later. In 1646, the Parliamentarians were once
again victorious, but the Cathedral suffered extensive damage: the
central spire was demolished, the roofs ruined and all the stained
glass smashed.
Can you tell me about the restoration of the Cathedral?
Bishop Hacket was responsible for bringing the building back into use
after the Civil War, but the interior you see now, particularly east of
the Choir Screen, was very much the work of Sir George Gilbert Scott
(Cathedral Architect from 1855 - 1878). He returned the Cathedral to
what he believed it would have looked like in the Middle Ages. It is
recognised as some of his finest work with the magnificent Choir screen and gates (made by Skidmore of Coventry), the beautiful Minton tiled floor in the Choir, Presbytery and Sanctuary, and the High Altar Reredos decorated with semi-precious stones from within the Diocese. The carved figures were a later addition.
Why was Chad's burial place important?
According to the great church historian Bede, writing in the century
after Chad's death, Chad's burial place became a place for pilgrims
because miracles took place at his tomb. Lichfield became a centre for
the worship of God and a place of pilgrimage.
Why was the Cathedral built here?
The original Cathedral (this is the third building on the site) was
dedicated on Christmas Day in the year AD 700 to house the remains of
St Chad, Bishop of the Mercians, who died in 672. Chad moved the centre
of his See to Lichfield from Repton, possibly because this was already
a holy site, as the scene of martyrdoms during the Roman period.
How old is the Cathedral?
The present building was started in 1195, and completed by the building
of the Lady Chapel in the 1330s. It replaced a Norman building begun in
1085 which had replaced one, or possibly two, Saxon buildings from the
seventh century.
FAQs 
