Lichfield Cathedral, Anglican cathedral in Lichfield, England
Lichfield Cathedral is an Anglican church of red sandstone in the center of the town with three spires nearly 77 meters tall in the Decorated style. The building extends across several areas including nave, transepts, choir, and an octagonal Chapter House with stone carvings.
Construction began in 1195 on the site of a Norman church and continued with several expansions until the three spires were completed in the 14th century. During the English Civil War in the 1640s, the cathedral suffered heavy damage from cannon fire and was later restored.
The three spires are known locally as the "Ladies of the Vale". The cathedral holds daily services and is the seat of the Bishop of Lichfield. The Lichfield Gospels, an 8th-century illuminated manuscript, is displayed in the Chapter House.
Entry is free every day, but donations are encouraged to support maintenance. Guided tours run at different times, and visitors can view the library by prior arrangement.
The Lichfield Angel, an 8th-century limestone relief of the archangel Gabriel, was found in 2003 beneath the nave and is thought to have belonged to St Chad's shrine. It retains traces of red paint matching the pigments of the Lichfield Gospels. When first shown in 2006, visitor numbers tripled.
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