Lichfield Cathedral is extending a warm welcome to all during the season of Lent, offering reflective worship and a thought-provoking programme of Lent lectures and tours. During this period of penitence, the community will explore the meaning of Lent and prepare for Holy Week, the most important days of the Christian year, the heart of the Christian faith.

The Very Revd Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield commented:
“Lent is a time to grow in faith: to accept some of the traditional disciplines of prayer, fasting and alms-giving by putting away our ego-needs and focusing instead on the life Jesus lived and the Kingdom he promised. During Holy Week, the final week of Lent, we follow Jesus’s journey to the cross and the glory of resurrection. This holy season is life-changing. I invite you to share it and make it your own pilgrimage”.

Worship

Daily throughout Lent, the offices of Morning and Evening Prayer will be said or sung at 7.30am and 5.30pm respectively (3.30pm on Sundays), and the Eucharist celebrated at 8am and 9.30am each weekday (12noon on Saturdays). Why not join us as part of your Lenten observance?

Listen again to Any Questions? on BBC Radio Four. Recorded live at Lichfield Cathedral on Friday 27 January.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01b1nky

The show was hosted by Jonathan Dilmbleby and featured panellists David Blunkett MP, Danny Finkelstein (Executive Editor of The Times), Anna Soubry MP (PPS to the Minister of State for Health) and Sunder Kotwala (Director of British Future).

Schools from across the Lichfield Diocese have taken on the unusual challenge of ‘Adopting a Gargoyle’, as part of a fundraising and education initiative launched last September by Lichfield Cathedral and the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education. Due to the demand from schools to complete competition entries, the deadline for competition entries has now been extended until 31 March 2012. The on-line mosaic (where donations light-up a section of the Gargoyle montage) at www.gargoyle.mosaicappeal.com will remain open for donations to the end of the year.

The project is in aid of the East End Appeal for Lichfield Cathedral, which has undergone a major programme of essential repairs to its stonework and conservation of its unique 16^th century painted glass. The project is now in its final phases and to help raise the balance of the money for the restoration work, Lichfield Cathedral, in partnership with the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education, is asking for support from schools for the East End Appeal via the Adopt a Gargoyle project.

For details on how to involve your school press Read more.

The newly refurbished Chapters Coffee Shop and Restaurant is now open. With its unique thirteenth century walled garden, it is an idyllic setting to meet friends for coffee or enjoy locally sourced, freshly prepared dishes for lunch, which is served seven days a week. Gluten free clients are catered for, with delicious gluten free cake, sandwiches and main meals. The restaurant is family friendly with high chairs available.

Located opposite the Cathedral's south door at 19A The Close.

Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9am until 4pm (winter) and 5pm (summer) and Sunday 10am until 4pm.

Coach parties welcome but please call in advance to book. Click here for menus and more information.

The Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra present Mahler's Tenth Symphony on Saturday 18 February at 7.30pm.

The BPO's much awaited visit to Lichfield Cathedral on February 18, is one of the highlights of their 70th Anniversary Season, and the work being performed - Mahler's epic Tenth Symphony - a most fitting way of celebrating the occasion.

Tickets £13.00, £10.00 (concessions), £8.00 students and children. Available from the Cathedral Shop at No. 9 The Close or telephone 01543 306150.

‘Come and Sing Iolanthe'

Lichfield Cathedral is delighted to invite singers young and old to come and sing ‘Iolanthe’ on February 4th. It will be the fourth year, due to popular demand, that members of the Lichfield Cathedral musical community have come together to put on a scratch concert performance of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera.

The famous Gilbert and Sullivan score will be issued to all performers on the day of the concert for a 2.30pm rehearsal in the Cathedral (until 4.30pm).

The performers will then take part in the 7.30pm concert.

Cathy Lamb, Director of Music said of the event:

“This event has been such enormous fun for the past few years. We welcome singers of all ages to be our chorus. The afternoon rehearsal will teach you all you need to know so hope you will join us!“

To book tickets at £10 for singers (including score hire) and £5 for audience members just contact the Cathedral Shop on 01543 306150 or call in to No. 9, The Close.

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances, sadly Michael Fabricant will no longer be available to participate in Iolanthe.

Saturday 11 February 7.30pm with conductor Philip Scriven

DECO bring not one but two internationally renowned soloists to Lichfield Cathedral on Saturday 11 February, as they are joined by husband and wife team George Caird and Jane Salmon for a concert of Winter Warmers.  It’s a programme to prove that opposites really do attract, with romantic classics and twentieth-century masterpieces combining to showcase the talents of DECO and their star soloists.

This musical treat opens with Samuel Barber’s ever-popular Adagio for Strings - a regular in the Classic FM ‘Hall of Fame’ and top of a plethora of ‘most relaxing’ charts.  Oboist George Caird, who wowed DECO’s audience in Richard Strauss’s Oboe Concerto last year, will then take centre stage in Barber’s Canzonetta, the composer’s final work and a real lesser-known gem.

Lichfield Cathedral invites local parishes to experience a unique day of worship, history and reflection at Lichfield Cathedral. The 2012 Parish Pilgrimage Days will take place on the following dates:

Saturday 10 March,  Saturday 15 September and Saturday 10 November.

The aim of the day is to provide spiritual refreshment and inspiration. The opening worship is relaxed and ‘seeker-friendly’, the Pilgrim Tour creates space (but no pressure) to pray, and offers opportunities (but again, no obligation) to light a candle and experience footwashing.

For programme and booking details please click on Read more.

Photo by Lichfield Camera Club

Church and State - then and now

A series of lectures reflecting on the relationship of Church and State will take place every Thursday during Lent at 1pm in the Nave of the Cathedral. Also on Thursdays, there will be a free guided tour of the Cathedral, emphasising its 17th century background. 

February 23rd: Dr Ian Atherton, Keele University
Edward Wightman and the religious intolerance of the Early Stuarts  

(Wightman was the last person in England to be burnt at the stake for heresy.  He died in Lichfield Market Square on 11 April 1612.  We will mark the 400th anniversary of his death, in thanksgiving that it was the last execution of its kind).

For details of the rest of the series please click on Read more.

The guest speaker at the Friends' Annual Dinner on 17th February 2012 will be local entertainer, Rhona Pownall.  Rhona lives in the Tamworth area and has been a guest at many venues, particularly in South Staffordshire and North Warwickshire.  She styles herself as 'Simply Rhona', and entertains by reciting monologues and humorous verses by Pam Ayres, Gary Hogg and Richard Stilgoe.  She is very well received and in great demand and we are very pleased that she has agreed to join us at the Friends' Dinner on 17th February 2012.

2012 will be the 350th anniversary of the publication, following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, of the Book of Common Prayer in 1662.

Lichfield Cathedral Library includes a first edition, which will be on display in the north quire aisle from Ash Wednesday (February 22) until Easter Day (April 8).

It is a 'sealed' first edition and will be on display in the north quire aisle during opening hours:

Monday to Friday: 7.30 am to 6.15 pm, Saturday: 8.00 am to 6.15 pm and Sunday: 7.30 am to 5.00 pm

Tuesday 27 March 7.30pm

Lichfield Cathedral are proud to be working in partnership with Staffordshire Performing Arts to deliver the charming cantata 'Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo' for soloist and children's choir written by Michael Flanders and Joseph Horovitz.

This timelessly popular work will involve young singers from local Lichfield church schools as part of the Cathedral and Cathedral Schools' MusicShare programme.

Tickets are priced just £5 and £3 for children under 16, from the Cathedral Shop at No. 9 The Close or call 01543 306150 for more information.

 

On Saturday 16 June 2012, Lichfield Garrick and Lichfield Cathedral will join together for the first time to present a magnificent celebration of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the great tradition of the patriotic British Proms concert. The programme of music in this most lavish of concerts will feature Coronation Anthems; Zadok the Priest and I Was Glad, together with film footage and excerpts from the Westminster Abbey Coronation.

The concert will conclude with the traditional flag waving "Last Night of the Proms" favourites, Rule Britannia, Nimrod, Sea Songs, Jerusalem, I Vow to thee my Country and of course, Pomp & Circumstance March No 1 - Land of Hope and Glory. For more information and ticket details please click on read more.

 

 

Over 400 members of the Lichfield Community came together this week for the annual ‘Songs for a City’ service, for all those involved in the commercial, voluntary and official life of the City. The service, in its third year, was a thank you for all that they do for Lichfield – a celebration and thanksgiving for everyone and everything that sustains the economic life of Lichfield.

The service included plenty of opportunity for people to sing well-loved carols, led by the Cathedral Choir, as well as readings, prayers and a short message from the Dean of Lichfield. The service was followed by mince pies and punch, served in the Cathedral. Refreshments were kindly sponsored this year by Keelys Solicitors (of Dam Street, Lichfield).

The Dean of Lichfield is chairing a research group, sponsored by the Association of English Cathedrals and the Foundation for Church Leadership, into the contribution of English Cathedrals to society. The report will be presented to national and local government, to the General Synod of the Church of England and to the wider church, next September.  The research is being conducted by the Grubb Institute and Theos, the Theological Think Tank whose specialism is the interaction of religion with society. 

To follow the link and find out more please click on read more.

The 8^th Annual Patrons’ of Lichfield Cathedral Dinner saw 165 guests from all over the country enjoy the unique experience of dining in the splendid medieval surroundings of Lichfield Cathedral.

The highlight of a very successful Dinner was an entertaining and thought-provoking speech by Roy Hattersley, former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. On the subject, ‘What are Politicians for?’, Mr Hattersley argued that politicians should act according to the dictates of their conscience and not simply respond to the will of their constituents. He argued strongly for the politics of conviction rather than personality, and also criticised the recent references by MPs to the ‘deserving and undeserving poor’. The speech was very well-received and provoked some lively conversation afterwards.

The first Girlguiding Staffordshire Big Sleepover took place at Lichfield Cathedral last month in aid of the East End Appeal. Whilst most of Lichfield was safely tucked up in bed, over 375 very excited Guides and Leaders from Girlguiding Staffordshire, gathered together for a Big Sleepover and slept under one roof in the Nave and Lady Chapel of Lichfield Cathedral. The event, held at the end of September, was a fundraiser for the Cathedral’s East End Appeal.

Come to Lichfield and experience the Cathedral as medieval people saw it, all by candlelight. The Cathedral's popular Candlelit Tours make a welcome return in 2012.

You will receive a guided tour by an experienced Cathedral guide. Delicious mulled fruit punch with scrumptious biscuits will be served after the tour in the lovely medieval beamed Old Stables, now the centre for Cathedral visitors.

Tour dates:

February 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 28 and 29

March 6, 7 and 14

Ticket price: £12.50

Lichfield Cathedral would like to say a big thank you to the 200 volunteers who together donated more than two thousand hours of their time to take care of the Staffordshire Hoard.

The Staffordshire Hoard on Tour exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral was displayed this summer in the Cathedral's Chapter House. The event was an overwhelming success with more that 14,700 people over 23 days taking the opportunity to get a closer look at the Anglo Saxon gold. All tickets for the exhibition were claimed before the doors had opened for the first tour.

Limburg Cathedral Girls' Choir, with conductor Judith Schnell and organist Carsten Igelbrink will be performing in Lichfield Cathedral as part of a UK tour in October 2011.

The concert will include pieces by Rheinberger and Mendelssohn and takes place on Sunday 9th October at 6pm. Entrance is free with a retiring collection.

Schools from all over the 1,744 square miles of the Lichfield Diocese are being asked to take on the challenge of ‘Adopting a Gargoyle’ this autumn term, as part of a new fundraising and education initiative. Launched officially today, this Diocesan project is a new scheme that allows not only schools to get involved with fundraising for Lichfield Cathedral’s East End Appeal, but will hopefully engage pupils of all ages in creative writing, history and art projects.

Every year, thousands of children and young people visit Lichfield Cathedral for educational visits and also the ‘Open Door’ event for primary and secondary schools. This month, Lichfield Cathedral, in partnership with the Lichfield Diocese Board of Education, is excited to announce the launch of a new schools project - the ‘Adopt a Gargoyle’ campaign. For further details please click on read more or visit the Adopt A Gargoyle section of the website.

After a busy, exciting and thoroughly enjoyable three weeks, it is time for the Lichfield Cathedral community to say farewell to the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold in the world, as the Staffordshire Hoard on Tour exhibition is dismantled today and moves to its final destination on the tour, Tamworth Castle.

The exhibition has been seen by an astounding 14,728 visitors in the Cathedral Chapter House this month, as it was displayed alongside Cathedral treasures, the Lichfield Angel and the St Chad Gospels (which are approximately 50 years older than the Books of Kells).

Two energetic members of the Lichfield Cathedral community, Eric and Margaret Harding have walked 90 miles this summer between Chester and Lichfield Cathedral to raise funds for the Cathedral's East End Appeal. They have raised £1,200 to date.

Margaret, a lay member of Cathedral Chapter and her husband Eric Harding, who is a Cathedral steward, started their long distance walk on Tuesday 28th June and completed the final stage of the walk to Lichfield Cathedral on Saturday 3rd September arriving in time for Evensong.

Picture - Eric and Margaret arrive at Lichfield Cathedral (with kind permission of Lichfield Camera Club). 

The Dean and Chapter of Lichfield Cathedral, together with the Bishop of Lichfield, took pleasure in welcoming over 600 members, supporters and friends of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry today. In the presence of Her Majesty The Queen, Colonel in Chief of the Regiment, prayers of thanksgiving were offered for the safe homecoming of the Regiment following their deployment in Afghanistan.

Lichfield Cathedral last welcomed Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh on Maundy Thursday 1988 (31st March). The visit celebrated Maundy Thursday with a commemorative service at the Cathedral, attended by over 2,000 members of the Community community.

Today, The Queen was welcomed to Lichfield by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Sir James Hawley KCVO TD JP and local school children from St Joseph's Primary School. She arrived at Lichfield City train station on the Royal Train. Her Majesty then travelled to the medieval Cathedral Close for the thirty minute service and was accompanied by Sir James Hawley. The Queen was met by the Honorary Colonel of The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry, Major General Andrew Farquhar CBE DL who escorted Her Majesty to the West Front of Lichfield Cathedral towards the Parade.

Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has launched National Poems For Cathedrals, a countrywide project during  which she will visit all the cathedrals in England.  She will perform in each participating cathedral and write a poem for each city as part of her time in post.

The national poets of Wales and Scotland, Gillian Clarke and Liz Lochhead, have agreed to join the project, giving it the potential to include every cathedral on the British mainland.

 

In June 2010, students from Staffordshire University filmed the 'Growing Grotesque' time lapse animation project at Lichfield Cathedral. Click here to be transferred to the Midlands Conservation Limited site to view the film (please note that this is an external link and the film lasts 3 minutes and 8 seconds).

This project captured the work of Phil Barnacle (Master Stone Mason from MCL), as he created a new grotesque for the East End of Lichfield Cathedral, as part of the Phase III renovation project. This project was completed by Jim Southwell (Photography Animation) and Emma Harrison (Project Manager) and funded through Lichfield District Council.

Pearl-Margarita, the Lichfield Cathedral decorated pig for the 30th Lichfield Festival, will soon be seen in Lichfield City and will return for the Pig Auction on the West Front on July 17th at 1pm. Pearl-Margarita will be auctioned with the other 29 pigs from the Festival project and the half of the funds raised from the Cathedral pig will be donated to the East End Appeal.

The Cathedral pig was designed and painted by Peter Halliday, a member of the Cathedral’s ArtReach committee. The committee helps to organise visual art exhibitions in the Cathedral. Peter, an internationally famous calligrapher and lettering artist, engaged the help of several members of his Lichfield Calligraphy Group, a tutor group which meets every Thursday at St Michael’s Church Hall. They spent many enjoyable hours helping with the painting.

Photo: Lichfield Camera Club / Christopher Lockwood

The Cathedral's two great Anglo Saxon treasures are now safely installed in their new permanent display cabinets in the Chapter House.                     

The St Chad Gospels, an illuminated Anglo Saxon gospel book which dates from about 730 (which makes it older than the famous Book of Kells), has been hidden away behind a pillar in a cabinet which has done good service for over 30 years but which no longer meets conservation standards. The Lichfield Angel, perhaps the finest surviving piece of late 8th / early 9th century stone sculpture in the country, languished in the transportation crate in which it was returned to the Cathedral by the conservator in 2007. It has never been professionally mounted and displayed. Both treasures have now been installed in bespoke frameless glass cabinets, on specially engineered mounts and with tailored lighting, with stunning effect.

The redisplay of these treasures is part of a £120,000 upgrade of the Chapter House, including its security, in preparation for the forthcoming exhibition of treasures from the Staffordshire Hoard on Tour later this summer. Funding for the project has been gratefully received from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Foyle Foundation, the Staffordshire Hoard Partnership, the Friends of Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield District Council and members of the Cathedral community.

On the 18th June 2011 starting at 8am, eight intrepid cyclists (all members of the Friends of Lichfield Cathedral) cycled 314 miles, the distance from Lindisfarne to Lichfield via Lastingham and York.  This was a static cycle ride at the West Front of the Cathedral in aid of the East End Appeal. The community group completed the challenge in just five and a half hours and a great team effort was made. Congratulations to everyone involved!

Sponsorship is still possible through the Just Giving site at the Just Giving website.  You can also sponsor the riders via text.  Simply text 'BIKE23' plus the amount you wish to donate (£1/£2/£3/£4/£5 or £10) to 70070.  Texts are free and your personal details will not be used for any other purpose.

Pictured are some of the cyclists on the day.  

Library tour - Wednesday October 19th at 10.30am 

Explore the hidden treasures of the historic Cathedral Library, built in 1249. Take a tour and obtain a rare glimpse of the magnificant treasures housed here including Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' (c1420) and Henry VIII's 'Great Bible' (first edition - 1539).

Tickets are £8.40 per person

Anglo Saxon tour - Saturday October 22nd at 2pm

Tickets are £5.40

Ticket bookings: Lichfield Cathedral Book Shop on 01543 306150 or No. 9 The Close, Lichfield.

Please note that bags cannot be taken into the Cathedral Library.



2011 will be an exciting year at Lichfield Cathedral.

There will be a wide range of services, tours, events and musical delights. Also for the first time, iconic items from the world's largest find of Anglo-Saxon gold, the Staffordshire Hoard, will be displayed at the Cathedral. Whatever your age, there is something for everyone at Britain's only medieval three-spired Cathedral.

To download the What's On guide for April to October please click here. 

Highlights include:

Staffordshire Hoard on Tour 30th July to 21st August

Library and Anglo Saxon tours

For further information please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 01543 306100.

This summer Lichfield Cathedral will host the Staffordshire Hoard on Tour from Saturday July 30^th until Sunday 21^st August. Free tickets, and exclusive tours, will be available from March 14^th through the Lichfield Garrick Box Office. To download the Cathedral What's On guide which includes details please click here.

The Staffordshire Hoard, the largest ever find of Anglo-Saxon gold, was discovered in a farmer’s field near Hammerwich, only 4 miles from Lichfield Cathedral, in 2009. The exhibition will feature over forty iconic items from including the folded cross, the biblical inscription and the seahorse, as well as some newly conserved pieces. The exhibition will be open to the general public free of charge.  It will be located in the Chapter House. The Cathedral is also pleased to announce that a special series of tours will be available at the Cathedral during this time.

Glittering items from the world's largest find of Anglo-Saxon gold are set to tour Staffordshire this summer.

Exciting plans that will see a touring exhibition of star items from the Staffordshire Hoard visit venues across Staffordshire this summer are in the final stages of preparation. The exhibition, which is set to visit Stafford's Shire Hall, Lichfield Cathedral and Tamworth Castle between July and September, will be a fitting way to thank the thousands of local people who donated money to help save the Staffordshire Hoard for the nation.