St. Chad's, Lichfield

“CHAD had his episcopal see in the place called Lichfield, in which he also died, and was buried, and where the see of the succeeding bishops of that province still continues. He had built himself a habitation not far from the church, wherein he was wont to pray and read with seven or eight of the brethren, as often as he had any spare time from the labour and ministry of the word.”

Bede: Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation


At the time of Chad We can only conjecture as to what the structure Chad built was like. It may have been of stone or, more likely, of wood and reeds. At that time the brook which still flows through the churchyard to the west of the church would have taken a wider path, Chad's oratory standing on an island surrounded by water. 12^th & 13^th centuries Records show a monastery of some kind still in existence at Stowe in the twelfth century and the earliest parts of the existing church date from this time. The Norman church, as first built, was quite different in appearance to today's church. Although the basic ground plan was the same, the nave and both aisles were spanned by a single, steeply pitched roof, pierced on both north and south by five gables, each with a round-headed window. Evidence of this arrangement can easily be seen on the south wall. In the thirteenth century, this roof was replaced with another, less steeply pitched, and the gables were dispensed with. South wall of church 14^th century It was becoming the custom at this time to hang church bells in special towers. The tower at St Chad's was begun in the late thirteenth century and completed in the fourteenth. From inside the tower, weathering on the east wall can be seen, showing that the existing west wall of the church, originally an outside wall, was incorporated into the structure of the tower. 15^th & 16^th centuries Outwardly, the church underwent little change for almost the next three hundred years. Inside, a new font was installed in the early fifteenth century, which is still in use today. During the reformation, in the sixteenth century, much of the churches finery, considered to be unnecessary, was confiscated and there were probably internal changes made to meet the protestant requirements of the time. The font 17^th century The Civil War began in 1642, and Lichfield saw much action. St Chad's was garrisoned by parliamentary forces and was used as a store for ladders and other equipment needed for attacks on the north-east side of the Cathedral Close, which was held by the Royalists. St Chad's was severely damaged during the war and by the end much of the roof was missing. In later work to the church, musket balls from this period were found lodged in old woodwork. The return of Charles II to the throne in 1660 began a period of enthusiasm for restoring churches to their former glory. Much repair work was needed at St Chad's, and the remains of the single span roof which had covered the nave and both aisles were removed and replaced by the current arrangement - a red-brick clerestory and a separate roof over each of the aisles and the nave. Church from north west showing clerestory Three of the church's four bells were cast during the seventeenth century: in 1625, 1664 and 1670. The 1664 bell bears witness to the popular support for Charles II following the bleak years of Cromwell's rule as Lord Protector and is inscribed: 'God save this church and realm and our King in War'. 18^th century One of Lichfield's most famous sons, Samuel Johnson (b. 1709), is known to have been a frequent visitor to St. Chad's on return visits to his native city, and there are two burials at St. Chad's with Johnsonian associations. Catherine Chambers was his mother's maid servant and died in 1767. Johnson's stepdaughter, Lucy Porter, died in 1786 and is buried in the choir. Memorial to Catherine Chambers 19^th & 20^th centuries The nineteenth century was characterised by much alteration and refurbishment to the church. The north aisle was in a poor condition and may not even have been usable, because in 1812 a gallery was built to help accommodate the growing congregation. In 1840, the north aisle was finally demolished and rebuilt and so in 1852 the gallery could be removed. In 1862, restoration work included window repairs and reconstruction of the chancel arch. At the same time, the vestry was added on the north side of the choir and the churchyard was properly enclosed by walls and railings. Work continued apace in the first half of the twentieth century and included new pews, the panelled oak ceiling in the south aisle, and several new windows, as well as much general repair work to remedy problems of wear and tear, crumbling stonework, dry rot and death-watch beetle. Into the 21^st century Work continues at St Chad's today, both in order to preserve our heritage and to adapt the church for modern use. In 1996, the west end of the church was completely reordered to create an improved welcome area and a space suitable for meetings and small social gatherings. This involved the construction of an internal porch, replacing the pews with movable chairs, the installation of a raised, carpeted floor, the relocation of the font to its new site in the Lady Chapel, and putting in a sink unit near the north door. New, carpeted welcome area Although no significant changes are planned inside the church for the near future, there is still vital work required to keep the building in a sound condition. Priorities include repairs to the stained glass, in particular the east window behind the high altar, as well as attending to deteriorating plasterwork and guttering. In October 2000, a major appeal was launched. This aims to raise the Ł100,000 needed to finance this work and and then to provide funds for the maintenance and enhancement of our historic site, including St. Chad's Well, as a central focus for pilgrimage and a resource for the whole community. A focus for pilgrimage: past, present and future TOP CHURCH GUIDE