Pilgrimage and Prayer Exhibition
There’s still time to see an intriguing exhibition in the Cathedral Chapter House which contains some of Lichfield’s hidden gems.
It’s part of the Pilgrimage and Prayer series which will consider journeys in space, light and time.
People of all faiths and of none recognise the role of pilgrimage in our lives and the exhibition explores how modern ideas build on the historical tradition of Christian pilgrimage including pilgrimage to Lichfield Cathedral from the time of St Chad to the present day.
Among the fascinating exhibits are a 14th century document listing relics owned by the Cathedral, stonework linked with the mediaeval shrine of St Chad, a 1420 edition of Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’, and a 17th century casket which contained the relics of St Chad after the Reformation.
The Chaucer manuscript is particularly fascinating because it is hand written and is from before the advent of printing.
There is also a what’s known as a Book of Hours - a 16th century printed book that would have been used for someone’s private devotions. It contains passages from scripture and prayers for individual use. The ‘hours’ relate to the desire by people in the 15th and 16th centuries to essentially mimic the hours of prayer used by the monastic foundations.
The exhibition is open every day until February 28. It is usually open from Monday to Saturday, 10:00-16:00 and from 12:45-14:30 on Sunday but please check here for closures before visiting.