The first authentic mention of Lichfield occurs in Bede’s Ecclesiastical
History, where it is alluded to as the See of an Anglo-Saxon Bishop. The
name is of Saxon origin, but its etymology has been much disputed. In
the Saxon Chronicle the word is written _Licetfeld_; in Bede,
_Lyccetfelth_ and _Licitfeld_. Some etymologists derive its
signification from _leccian_, to water (and it is well known to have
abounded in numerous lakes and pools); others, from the verb _licean_ or
_lician_, to like, or to be agreeable, and therefore make it to signify
Pleasant Field. It has however been more frequently allowed to be
derived from _lic_, a dead body, and consequently as signifying
_cadaverum campus_, the Field of Dead Bodies. This derivation is
supported by a prevailing tradition, of the martyrdom of a thousand
British Christians on this spot, at the time of the persecution (A. D.
303) under Dioclesian, when Maximian was governor of Britain.
It is certain that the present diocese of Lichfield and Coventry,
anciently formed a part of the kingdom of Mercia, which, being conquered
by (the _Christian King_) Oswy, introduced the Christian faith into this
powerful kingdom of the Saxon Heptarchy. He made Lichfield an episcopal
See, by appointing Diuma, a Scotsman, the first Bishop, A. D. 656. After
a succession of three others, the famous Ceadda, or Chad, was raised to
the Bishopric A. D. 667. Bede informs us, that “he had built himself an
habitation not far removed from the church; wherein he was wont to pray,
and read with a few, that is, seven or eight, of the brethren, as often
as he had any spare time from the labour and ministry of the word.”
From this period, little is known of the history of the See till after
the Norman Conquest, when at the National Council held in London, A. D.
1075, it was determined to remove the See of Lichfield to Chester, which
was done by Peter (the first bishop appointed by William the Conqueror),
who went by the appellation of Bishop of Chester and Lichfield. Robert
de Lymesey was his successor, and removed the See to Coventry, having
obtained from the King, the custody of that Abbey (originally founded by
Canute); this edifice having been restored and greatly enriched by
Leofric, Earl of Hereford, and his celebrated wife Lady Godiva. Robert
Peeke, chaplain to Henry the First, was consecrated to this See, A. D.
1117, and was succeeded, 1128, by Roger de Clinton, who was a liberal
benefactor both to the city and Cathedral church of Lichfield. He is
said to have rebuilt great part at the latter, to have increased the
number of Prebendaries, and to have appointed the first Canons. De
Clinton restored the See to Lichfield, and styled himself Bishop of
Lichfield and Coventry. Until the establishment of Chester as a separate
See, A. D. 1542, the succeeding bishops were indifferently called
Bishops of Lichfield, Coventry, and Chester, having an episcopal
residence at each place. Coventry and Lichfield was the usual
designation till Bishop Hacket, on the restoration of the monarchy,
placed Lichfield before Coventry, as a compliment to the loyalty of the
former place. Walter de Langton succeeded to the See in 1295, and did
much benefit to the city, forming streets, causeways, &c.; he augmented
the income of the Vicars, expended 2000_l._ on a shrine for St. Chad,
and rebuilt the Bishop’s Palace, giving the old episcopal house to the
Vicars Choral.
In the time of Henry the Eighth, the Cathedral became a prey to
depredation; its ornaments, statues, shrines, and all other valuable
articles were converted to the use of the crown, with the exception of
the shrine of St. Ceadda; this was saved by the intercession of the
Bishop, Rowland Lea, who obtained it from the King. This prelate
earnestly endeavoured to save the monastery of Coventry, and its fine
church, from spoliation, but in this his labour was fruitless, and they
were entirely demolished.
Little of interest occurs afterwards in the historical details of
Lichfield, till the commencement of the civil wars. In 1642, a troop was
raised for King Charles by Sir Richard Dyott, Kt.: during this time the
Close sustained three sieges, by which the Cathedral was greatly
injured. Preparations to considerable extent were made, 1643, to defend
the Close against Lord Brooke, and three thousand troops. This nobleman
was a zealous opposer of episcopacy, and had determined on the complete
destruction of the Cathedral; on his _approach_ to Lichfield he prayed
that he might be annihilated if his cause were unjust; on his _return_
from placing his artillery, he was shot by a brace of bullets,
discharged by a deaf and dumb gentleman, of the name of Dyott, who had
watched Lord Brooke’s motions from the top of the cathedral. Lord
Brooke’s body was removed to Warwick to be buried with his ancestors;
the armour worn by him on this fatal day, and his doublet stained with
blood, are in the armoury at Warwick Castle. The gun with which he was
killed remains in possession of the Dyott family, resident near
Lichfield.
Notwithstanding the check given to the rebels by the death of their
leader, the garrison could not long stand the siege, and were
constrained to yield to the Parliamentary forces. This was the first
cathedral which surrendered to them, and every species of havoc and
profanation was committed by these miscreants. The soldiers belonging to
the King’s party were imprisoned in the Cathedral three days and four
nights without food, except what could privately be obtained, and the
inclemency of the season obliged them to convert the seats and desks
into fuel. At this period the venerable pile became one scene of
desolation, the centre spire was battered down, the costly monuments
destroyed, and amongst others, that of Lord Paget, sculptured in Italy
at the enormous expense of 700_l._ Dugdale says, “courts of guard were
kept in the aisles; they broke up the pavement, every day hunted a cat
with hounds throughout the Church, delighting themselves in the echo
from the goodly vaulted roof, and to add to their wickedness, brought a
calf into it wrapt in linen, carried it to the font, sprinkled it with
water, and gave it a name in scorn and derision of that holy sacrament,
Baptism; and when Prince Rupert recovered that Church by force, Colonel
Russel, the governor, carried away the communion-plate and linen, with
whatsoever else was of value.”
The Close was retaken by Prince Rupert in 1643, and Colonel Hawey Bagot
was appointed Governor of the garrison; he had the honour of
entertaining Charles the First, after the battle of Naseby, when his
majesty left Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and slept at Governor Bagot’s, in
Lichfield, on the 15th of June 1645; this unfortunate monarch twice
afterwards revisited this city; but short was its period of
tranquillity, for in 1646, the Close was again taken by the
Parliamentary forces, under Sir William Brereton, and its walls
dismantled. In 1651, by authority of the Rump Parliament, men were
employed to strip off the lead from the roof of the Cathedral, and break
in pieces the Bells[1]. It may not be uninteresting to remark on the
heavy afflictions, or violent deaths, suffered by many of the spoliators
of the Church of those days; among others, Colonel Danvers who stripped
the roof, and Pickings who demolished the bells, met with untimely ends.
We find that although the building was in this dilapidated state, its
ministers did not neglect their duties, and Ashmole has the following
memorandum. “This morning Mr. Rawlings of Lichfield told me, that the
vicars of the Cathedral had entered the Chapter-house, and there said
service; that this, with the Vestry, was the only place in the church
that had a roof to shelter them.” On the Restoration, Dr. John Hacket
was happily appointed prelate: he found the church little better than a
heap of ruins, but, zealous in the cause of religion, he immediately set
to work with an activity rarely equalled. The morning after his arrival,
he employed his own coach horses to remove the rubbish, and took the
most vigorous measures to obtain assistance; petitioning from house to
house for pecuniary aid, and being himself a liberal benefactor. By his
unwearied diligence and munificence, the Cathedral in the space of eight
years had nearly regained its original splendour, and was re-consecrated
in 1669. The intrepid character of this admirable man may be shown by
the following anecdote.—Hacket was preaching in London, during the
persecution of the established Church, and although the Liturgy was
proscribed, under a severe penalty, he continued the use of it; at
length, an armed sergeant and trooper were sent to the church to compel
his obedience, but he, with a firm voice and unintimidated manner, read
the service as he was wont to do; and when the soldiers, placing a
pistol at his head, threatened him with instant death, he calmly
replied, “Soldiers, I am doing my duty, do you do yours!” then with a
voice equally composed, he resumed the prayers. The soldiers, awe-struck
by his pious courage, left the church in astonishment!
From Bishop Hacket’s time, the Cathedral underwent little alteration
till the year 1788, when the building being acknowledged to be in a very
dilapidated state, subscriptions were raised to repair and renovate it.
Under the direction of Mr. Wyatt, the external structure was put in good
order, and the internal decorations restored and embellished. The beauty
and magnificence of the edifice has since been greatly enhanced, by the
addition of some painted windows, from the dissolved Abbey of
Herckenrode in Germany: this valuable purchase was obtained by the Dean
and Chapter, through the liberality of the late Sir Brooke Boothby, who
made the acquisition when travelling on the Continent, for the small sum
of 200_l._, and generously transferred to them his bargain, estimated at
10,000_l._ These windows were painted at the period when the art had
attained its highest degree of perfection, and are considered by
connoisseurs as very valuable and choice specimens. Several modern
windows of superior merit, have also been inserted, by the present Dean,
Dr. Woodhouse, and others interested in the embellishment of the
venerable pile. The large window at the west, which had been totally
destroyed during the civil wars, and restored by James the Second when
Duke of York, has been filled with painted glass, from a legacy of Dr.
Addenbroke, who died Dean of this Cathedral, in 1776.
Although this Cathedral cannot compete in size and magnificence with
York and some others, in point of elegance it is inferior to none, and
its light and beautiful architecture is the theme of universal
admiration. The building is in form of a cross, having a large spire at
the intersection of the cross, and two smaller ones at the west end; the
pyramidal form of the western façade, enriched with highly wrought
decorations and tracery, is eminently beautiful; neither must the centre
porch be forgotten, being no less worthy of notice. The external length
of the church is 400 feet, and the breadth in the transept 187 feet. The
Nave and Aisles are good specimens of the simple yet exquisite taste of
the architecture of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries; the
clustered columns, delicately moulded arches, and vaulted roof, impress
the beholder with a solemn and pleasing effect. Amongst the numerous
monuments, we must give the first place to that of the Cathedral’s
greatest benefactor, the good and pious Bishop Hacket: it consists of a
recumbent figure, and at the head is engraved the following appropriate
inscription; “I will not suffer mine eyes to sleep, till I have found
out a place for the temple of the Lord.” But the monument which attracts
the eager attention of all admirers of the sculptorial art, is that
erected to the memory of the two Miss Robinsons; it is considered a
_chef-d’œuvre_ of Chantrey’s, and certainly has rarely been equalled for
beauty of design and workmanship. The remains of many celebrated
characters are recorded within these walls—that colossus of literature,
Dr. Johnson, justly the pride and boast of Lichfield: Lady Mary Wortley
Montague, who so greatly benefited mankind by the introduction of the
art of Inoculation. Gilbert Walmesley, Dr. Smalbroke, Dean Addison,
David Garrick, and Andrew Newton, who founded and endowed the noble
institution in the Close, for the widows and orphans of Clergy; for this
purpose, he gave, by will and donation, the sum of forty thousand
pounds.
The Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, was in early times of very great
extent; it is now much more limited, but contains the whole county of
Stafford (except Brome and Clent, which belong to Worcester), all
Derbyshire, the greater part of Warwickshire, and nearly half of
Shropshire. It has the Archdeaconries of Salop, Coventry, Stafford and
Derby. In the reign of King John, permission was granted to the Bishop
of Lichfield and Coventry to build a castle at Eccleshall, and this has
generally been, as it now is, the residence of the Bishop. There is also
a palace in Lichfield belonging to the See; the present one was erected
in 1687, by Bishop Wood, on the ground occupied by the garden of
Langton’s Palace (of which there are no remains), and was built in
compliance with an order from Archbishop Sancroft, as compensation for
damage committed upon property belonging to the See.
Lichfield being situated on the road between London and Liverpool (now
so much the line of communication with our sister country), is much
frequented by travellers; and few places are more interesting to the
lover of literature, having been either the natal spot, or home, of so
many distinguished for learned attainments. Every one capable of
appreciating the profound wisdom and moral energy of Johnson, must feel
a reverence and respect for the place where he first drew breath. Thomas
Newton, Bishop of Bristol, brother to Andrew Newton, whom we have
already mentioned, and the learned author of _Dissertations on the
Prophecies_, was a native of this city; as was also that famous
virtuoso, Elias Ashmole, the contributor of a valuable collection of
curiosities and MSS. to the University of Oxford, now assembled in the
Ashmolean Museum. Here was the paternal residence of that elegant
scholar, Addison; and in addition to the names already brought forward,
Lichfield could boast amongst its inhabitants the eccentric James Day,
author of _Sandford and Merton_, Mr. and Miss Edgeworth, Dr. Darwin, of
botanical celebrity, and several others of highly esteemed intellectual
powers.
[Illustration: WOODCROFT HOUSE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.]