What the Shrine Means...
In the lead-up to the consecration of the Shrine, the clergy team spoke about what the Shrine means to them personally:
11 September - The Very Revd Adrian Dorber
25 September - The Revd Canon Andrew Stead
9 October - The Revd Canon Dr Gregory Platten
16 October - The Rt Revd Jan McFarlane
Original Purpose of Relics
The early Church received teaching via travelling missionaries and false teachings spread easily. Therefore, it was necessary to verify that teachers were authentic representatives of the Christian faith.
The passage below is from John’s first letter (one of the disciples), who wrote to a Christian community who were in danger of listening to the wrong teaching. He explained that they could trust was he said because he has actually been there, walked with Jesus, seen his miracles, his death and resurrection:
“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life...” 1 John 1:1
Early churches used to prove their authenticity by the presence of a relic from a revered follower of Jesus. Often, they had been martyred or had performed amazing miracles in order to prove their genuine faith. The relic of this revered follower of Jesus (Saint) was kept at the heart of the church as a sign that this church was following the true teachings.
The new Shrine of St Chad at Lichfield Cathedral seeks to go back to the original purpose of Shrines - as a reminder that a godly man has brought the Christian faith to this place.