For years we have had a decorative plate with a lovely watercolour picture of Lichfield Cathedral on it and the building is every bit as wonderful as the painting. It is a graceful, beautifully designed edifice - the outside is covered with statues, one seldom sees that many in good condition outside the rest of Europe. The outside is a bit soot stained, but that does not detract too much from the appearance. As there were still Christmas trees and a Nativity scene this was an added dimension, pity they are restoring some of the windows - the scaffolding behind the High Altar and choir stalls is not attractive. There are glorious tiled floors, wonderful glass and the most unusual pulpit I've seen in years - made of wrought iron and embellished with semi-precious cabuchons and pretty enamelled plaques. It's one of England's few remaining free cathedrals - but they do like a donation - and was so quiet and peaceful (the same cannot be said for some that charge a true admission fee) that it was possible to feel that the rest of the world had temporarily ceased to exist. If I have a criticism, it's that there were no guides ( perhaps because it was New Year's Eve) they make so much difference to finding out about places such as this. Don't miss the little chapel of St. Chad. There is a restaurant - though we didn't try it - in the Chapter

After making a visit to the cathedral one Sunday in October, I saw advertisements for the Christmas special ‘Star of wonder star of Light’.

I really enjoyed my earlier visit, so I bought tickets for the event to take my wife along, not knowing what to expect.

This is the second year the cathedral has put on the light show, and the ticket sales were brisk, by the time we’d made our minds up the options were limited to later times, last entry is at 9:45 pm and the whole show takes about an hour. We were at 9 pm.

The event was very well organised, the marshals ensured orderly movement of large crowds of people, mostly families. After an enjoyable warmup light-show on the school adjacent to the cathedral, we grabbed a hot-chocolate & it was on for the main light show, scenes from the nativity, I’ve included two photographs that show the type of effect created. It was quite a spectacle and lasts about 15 minutes.

If you don’t know Litchfield Cathedral, it’s unique with three spires and the front façade is very impressive, providing a unique and imposing ‘canvas’ for the show, and it was all used to excellent effect.

Then we could enter the cathedral, which was beautifully lit up in several areas, with a display of Christmas trees from local businesses raising money for charity. There were quieter areas where you could just sit and contemplate, there were live gospel readings from the nativity story and carols being sung by candlelight.

The whole effect made for a magical and highly enjoyable visit. This was well worth the ticket price. In fact I think I donated a larger amount when I visited several weeks earlier!

There is ample car parking quite close to the cathedral at several places, and the local restaurants were buzzing with families, so I can well imagine that the event is a good thing for local businesses too.

I think this could easily become a standard event in our calendar, this is the second year and they’ve had different themes.

Well done to the team at Litchfield Cathedral and the company that planned and staged the wonderful light show.

Lichfield has been a regular haunt for my wife and I who continue to enjoy the tranquility and quintessential historical ambience of Staffordshire's premier heritage city. Its diverse architecture, boasts the only mediaeval English Cathedral with three spires. And when you visit, make a point of asking why they appear to lean? Lichfield is just seventeen miles north of Birmingham, and lies at the heart of England. 1300 years ago it stood at the centre of the Kingdom of Mercia. When Chad was made Bishop of Mercia in 669 he moved his See from Repton to Lichfield, which may already have been a holy site since there is a legend that Christians were martyred there under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. When Chad died in 672 pilgrims began to come to his shrine, and in 700, Bishop Hedda built a new church to house his bones. Starting in 1085 and continuing through the twelfth century this Saxon church was replaced by a Norman Cathedral, and then by this architecturally magnificent Gothic Cathedral, circa 1195. Steeped in history, Lichfield is a great place to visit, especially if you are genuinely interested in history and admiring incredible architecture. I confess that nearly a decade ago, my art work was displayed at Lichfield Cathedral's Chapters Restaurant and College Hall, but we now satisfy ourselves with checking out other artists and photographers who exhibit their work around the County, many of whom, were inspired to paint and pen poetry. There are several watering holes and diners within easy reach of the Cathedral. We especially enjoy the occasional afternoon de-caf tea or coffee accompanied by a light dessert. I guess, you may be right in thinking we are slightly biased, but, if you enjoy tranquility , pleasant surroundings and are inspired by amazing architecture, then Lichfield Cathedral will fire your imagination and meet your high expectations. It never ceases to amaze us; and, despite visiting for many years, we always seem to find something new to explore or discuss.

We are confident that Lichfield Cathedral is one of the most interesting religious buildings you will visit in England.
Regards,

Paul R

On Thursday, 27th. September, 2012 I travelled by the 9.45 am London Midland train from Northampton to Lichfield Trent Valley, and then by a small diesel electric to Lichfield City station. I travel first class and the trip was both comfortable and punctual. At Lichfield city station I then took a taxi to the local Record Office to conduct some family research for the period 1783 - 1801, which entailed the scanning of ancient text written on parchments. I was researching my family names of Moreton, Randle, and Hatton. My paternal great grandparents were John Moreton Jnr., and Fanny Randle. I had arrived at the record office at about 12. noon, so after several hours of intensive research of the parchments, I took a break to rest my eyes. I first walked across from the RO to the nearby Gatehouse public house and there enjoyed a very cheap pint priced at only £1.99p. This was a Weatherstone's retail outlet. I could scarcely believe the price. I enjoyed the pint and then walked directly towards the cathedral. It took only ten minutes to reweach this remarkable piece of architecture which had faced the wrath of Oliver Cromwells' soldiers in the mid-seventeenth century during the time of
The Commonwealth when England was a republic in the wake of the regicide of the last king Charles I, who was beheaded after his trial outside Whitehall, London. The cathedral is built in tis attractive local red quarried stone which gives it a unique visual ambience, especially in bright sunshine. The interior is not brightly lit, so be prepared for the sudden drop in quality
light. I only had a short time on my hands so strode clockwise round the cathderal but in that short time was able to see the spectacular medieval glass windows, the burial sites of several famous clergy, some of the cathederal's ancient silverware and related artefacts, and, the inscriptions on the headstones of the cathdedrals clergy who had been buried here. I could imagine a wonderful ambience in the cathedral during either Easter or Christmas ceremonies.
In the bookshop opposite the cathderal I bought several well printed books which recorded the cathedrals history in photographs and text. I also bought a cute teddy bear which wore a jacket bearing the Lichfield cathedral logotype as well as a nicely printed T-towel bearing a graphic of the cathedral. The walkway back to the record office is a pedestrian walkway, so does not have the volume of traffic normally encountered in a city centre, which is an asset as one can stroll peacefully without noise and distraction from cars, vans and lorries. In the immediate area are a wide variety of restaurants, which served Thai, Indian, Chinese and Italin food. There are also several pubs and a hotel from which to choose a beverage, as I had done earlier. The rain held-off, until I departed at 18.00. By 19.45 I was back in Northampton having spent a fruitful and enjoyable visit to this charming city. I think a two day visit would give the visitor a better feel for the city's history and local people. I found everybody to be most helpful and aboveall polite. I will certainly be returning for further family research and to revisit the cathedral and several other local places of historical interest. The city has some fine antique shops. My family research proved fruitful with over forty entries for my related families, of which, all were written on parchments dating from 1787 - 1800 for my families. My next local visit will be to Nuneaton. Geoffrey E. Dxion-Hamilton, editor, Anglo Nordic Times ( Fd. 1976 ).
visit: Thurs. 27. ix. 2012. 0.9.45 am - 19. 45pm gmt bst.

Lichfield City is a pleasant half-hour train ride north out of Birmingham in the Staffordshire countryside, and home to one of England’s great old cathedrals. With its unmistakable three spires (“Three Sisters”), Lichfield Cathedral is a magnificent sight to behold as you approach the historic city center. The environs of the cathedral are a pleasure to explore as is an unhurried walk through the cathedral itself. Lanes leading to the cathedral offer welcoming small-scale cafes, restaurants, and other inviting businesses and attractions, such as museums honoring Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles, and Samuel Johnson, compiler of an important early English dictionary. There is a lovely pond you can stroll beside, pubs offering traditional refreshment, and a village market outside St. Mary’s Church, all just minutes from the cathedral by foot.

The exterior stonework of the cathedral is an imposing dark reddish hue. Its three sky-piercing spires are a unique feature among English cathedrals. It’s easy to spot many interesting and intact gargoyles mounted at various levels on the outer walls of the church, particularly at the east end. Watch out for an especially horrifying one of Medusa’s head. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear a session of change-ringing in the bell tower, the cascading sound of bells mightily rolling around upon themselves with subtle, ever-shifting changes of bell sequence. Change-ringing is one of the aural wonders of English cathedrals and never fails to give me goosebumps and make time seem to stand still. Have a seat on one of many benches placed along the perimeter of the cathedral and enjoy gazing upon any of the many different views of this grand edifice.

A wander through the interior will provide you with several hours immersion in a serene yet historical and awe-inspiring cathedral environment. Lichfield Cathedral traces its origins back to the legend of St. Chad in the 600’s. The present cathedral took about 150 years to build and is largely Gothic. It contains all the major styles within that broad category of time stretching from the 1200’s through the 1300’s and beyond. The crossing and western end of the choir date from 1200 and show both Norman Transitional and Early English work. The Lady Chapel and eastern choir are in the Decorated style, and there are examples of Perpendicular style.

The cathedral suffered much damage at the hands of Henry VIII and during the English Civil War so had to undergo quite a bit of rebuilding in subsequent ages, which continues to the present day. Lichfield and the cathedral close were a battleground during the Civil War in the 1600’s. If you look closely at the many carved heads decorating the side aisles in the nave, you can see slash marks on some of them where swords were sharpened during that upheaval!

History washes over you as you explore this ancient building and marvel over the monuments, effigies, stained glass windows, tiled floors, organ pipes, chantry chapels, massive doors, iron and metal-work, the complex tracery, and myriad of architectural features from the smallest detailed wood and stone carvings to the soaring arches, breathtaking ceiling vaulting, and herculean pillars. One of the cathedral’s treasures is the St. Chad Gospels, an eighth-century Gospel Book with 236 surviving folios, eight of which are illuminated. Priceless exhibits such as this along with the vast cathedral fabric that envelopes and transports you make for a profoundly rewarding experience.

There are two cathedral gift shops. Purchases benefit the cathedral and help you remember your lovely sojourn at Lichfield’s “Three-Sisters” cathedral.