Statues - Hither & Thither

 

Description

The West Front of the cathedral is decorated with 113 statues. Towards the end of the nineteenth century nearly all original statues had seriously deteriorated. Apart from five medieval statues they were replaced by statues sculpted by various sculptors, mostly employed by the local form of Robert Bridgeman & Son. The statues within the porch (8-10, and maybe also 103-106) are by Mary Grant. The statue of Queen Victoria (no. 41) is sculpted by her daugher Princess Louise.

Almost all statues have the name of the depicted person inscribed in the base. In the lists on this pages these names are given in bold (if this name is not the common name in use at present or incomplete, the usual or complete name is given in normal type - if no name is given, the name is placed between square brackets), followed by a characteristic attribute accompanying the figure, if necessary, a short annotation and a reference to Wikipedia (if any).

A. Central Gable:

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1. [Christ] blessing his people. Another statue of Christ is at the North Transept
2. [Moses] (stone tablets) (Wikipedia).
3. [Elijah], prophet (book) (Wikipedia).
4. [Gabriel], archangel (lily) (Wikipedia), also no. 43.
5. [Uriel], archangel (open book) (Wikipedia), also no. 48.
6. [Michael], archangel (lance and snake) (Wikipedia), also no. 57.
7. [Raphael], archangel (pilgrim's staff) (Wikipedia), also no. 62.

B. Main Entrance:

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8. [Mary Magdalene] (alabaster box of ointment) (Wikipedia).
9. [Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus]) (Wikipedia). Another statue of St. Mary is at the North Transept.
10. [Mary of Clopas], one of the women present at the Crucifixion of Jesus (Wikipedia).

C. Highest stage

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11. Eve, according to the creation, the first woman, and wife of Adam (no. 23) (distaff) (Wikipedia).
12. 14th century figure
13. Sarah, wife of Abraham (no. 25) and the mother of Isaac (no. 26) (cakes) (Wikipedia).
14. Rebekah, Rebecca, wife of Isaac (no. 26) and the mother of Jacob (no. 27) and Esau (jar) (Wikipedia) (according to booklet a 14th century figure). Another statue of Rebecca is at the Lady Chapel, no. 8.
15. Rachel, favorite of Biblical patriarch Jacob's three wives as well as the mother of Joseph and Benjamin (shepherd's crook) (Wikipedia). Another statue of Deborah is at the Lady Chapel, no. 7.
16. Deborah, prophetess of the God of the Israelites, the fourth Judge of pre-monarchic Israel (scroll with text 'Awake, Awake, Deborah' and palm tree) (Wikipedia). Another statue of Deborah is at the Lady Chapel, no. 5.
17. 14th century figure
18. Hannah, mother of Samuel (no. 19), who is depicted as a child (Wikipedia).
19. Samuel, leader of ancient Israel and prophet (horn and scroll with text "The Strength of") (Wikipedia).
20. Aaron, prophet, older brother of Moses (scroll) (Wikipedia).
21. 14th century figure
22. 14th century figure

D. Highest stage

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23. Adam, according to the creation, the first man (skins and lion) (Wikipedia).
24. Abel, son of Adam, shepherd (crook and lamb) (Wikipedia).
25. Abraham, first of the three biblical patriarchs of Israel (fire and knife) (Wikipedia).
26. Isaac, son of Abraham (no. 25) and Sarah (no. 13), father of Jacob and Esau; one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites (meditating) (Wikipedia).
27. Jacob, son of Isaac (no. 26) and Rebekah (no. 14), third patriarch of the Hebrew people with whom God made a covenant (leaning on staff) (Wikipedia).
28. Melchizedek, king and priest mentioned during the Abram narrative in the 14th chapter of the Book of Genesis (censer and crown) (Wikipedia).
29. Enoch, appearing in the Book of Genesis, father of Methuselah (no. 30) (scroll) (Wikipedia).
30. Methuselah, son of Enoch (no. 29) and the grandfather of Noah (no. 31), the man in the Hebrew Bible reported to have lived the longest (staff) (Wikipedia).
31. Noah, the tenth and last of the pre-flood Patriarchs (ark and olive branch) (Wikipedia).
32. Daniel, protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Bible (pen and scroll) (Wikipedia).
33. Job, central character of the Book of Job in the Bible (staff) (Wikipedia).
34. Shem, one of the sons of Noah (no. 31) (loose clothes) (Wikipedia).

E. Middle stage

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(upper)
35. St. Edith Tamworth, Saint Edith of Wilton or Eadgyth (961-984), English nun, a daughter of King Edgar of England (foot on crown, staff and book) (Wikipedia).
36. David, the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah (crown and harp) (Wikipedia).
37. St. Helena, the consort of the Roman emperor Constantius Chlorus and the mother of the emperor Constantine the Great, an important figure in the history of Christianity (large cross and tower) (Wikipedia).
38. Solomon, king of Israel and the son of David (crown, sceptre and temple model) (Wikipedia).
    (lower)
39. Decanus 1884?, Edward Bickersteth (Acton 1814 - 1892), dean of Lichfield 1875-1892 (Wikipedia).
40. St. Mark, one the four Evangelists (lion, book and feather) (Wikipedia).
41. Queen Victoria, Queen of Great-Britain, 1837-1901 (Wikipedia); statue signed 'Louise 1885'
42. St. Luke, one of the Four Evangelists (staff and serpent) (Wikipedia).

F. Middle stage left

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	43	44	45	46	47
	48	49	50	51	52

(upper)
43. Gabriel, archangel (shield and sceptre) (Wikipedia), also no. 4.
44. Zechariah, prophet (candle and scroll with text 'How great is his goodness') (Wikipedia).
45. Nahum, prophet (idol and scroll with text 'The Burden…') (Wikipedia).
46. Amos, prophet (crook and branch, staff and scroll with text) (Wikipedia).
47. Jeremiah, prophet (foot on temple fragment) (Wikipedia).
    (lower)
48. St. Uriel, archangel (spear) (Wikipedia), also no. 5.
49. Malachi, prophet (fire and scroll with text '…enger of Jehova') (Wikipedia).
50. Habakkuk, prophet (tablet and tower) (Wikipedia).
51. Obadiah, prophet (hands open and scroll with text 'The Kingdom shall be the Lord') (Wikipedia).
52. Daniel, protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Bible (scroll and fire) (Wikipedia), also no.

G. Middle stage right

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53	54	55	56	57
58	59	60	61	62

(upper)
53. Isaiah, prophet (saw and scroll) (Wikipedia).
54. Zephaniah (torch and scroll with text 'the gra…') (Wikipedia).
55. Jonah, prophet (fish and scroll with text '…cion is…') (Wikipedia).
56. Hosea (skull and scroll with text) (Wikipedia).
57. St. Michael, archangel (in armour) (Wikipedia), also no. 6.
    (lower)
58. Ezekiel, prophet (wheel and scroll with text '… is there') (Wikipedia).
59. Haggai, prophet (part of the temple) (Wikipedia).
60. Micah, prophet (foot on idol and scroll with text '… god like unto…') (Wikipedia).
61. Joel, prophet (locusts and scroll with text 'Jehovah is…') (Wikipedia).
62. St. Raphael, archangel (pilgrim staff) (Wikipedia), also no. 7.

H. Middle stage

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(upper)
63. Bishop Hacket, John Hacket (London 1592-1670), Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, 1661-1670; had the unenviable task of overseeing the restoration of Lichfield Cathedral(bible) (Wikipedia).
64. Bishop Lonsdale, John Lonsdale (Newmillerdam 1788 - 1867), Principal of King's College London, and later Bishop of Lichfield, 1843-1867 (book and model of Eton Chapel) (Wikipedia).
65. [Bishop Selwyn], George Augustus Selwyn (Hampstead 1809 - Lichfield 1878) was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand, 1841-1868; bishop of Lichfield, 1868-1878 (with a boy) (Wikipedia).
66. Archbishop Maclagan, William Maclagan (Edinburgh 1826 - London 1910), Archbishop of York, 1891-1908 (Wikipedia).
    (lower)
67. Bishop Clinton, Roger de Clinton (d. 1148), Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, 1129-1148; was responsible for organising a new grid street plan for the town of Lichfield in the 12th century which survives to this day. (model of cathedral) (Wikipedia).
68. Bishop Patteshull, Hugh de Pateshull (d. 1241), Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, 1240-1241 (Wikipedia).
69. [Bishop Langton], Walter Langton (d. 1321), bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and treasurer of England (church model) (Wikipedia).
70. Archbp Theodore of Tarsus (602-690), eighth Archbishop of Canterbury (Wikipedia).

I. Lower stage, left

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71. William I the Conqueror (c. 1028-1087), son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva; king from 1066-1087 (Sword, Doomsday Book, and behind him a book inscribed 'Norfolk and Suffolk') (Wikipedia).
72. William II Rufus (Guillaume le Roux) (c. 1060-1100), son of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders; king 1087-1100 (bow and horn) (Wikipedia).
73. Henry I Beauclerc (Henri Beauclerc) (1068-1135), son of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders; king 1100-1135 (book) (Wikipedia).
74. Stephen of Blois (Étienne de Blois) (c. 1096-1154), son of Stephen, Count of Blois and Adela of Normandy - grandson of William the Conqueror; king 1135-1154 (orb, dove and sword) (Wikipedia).
75. Henry II Curtmantle (Henri Court-manteau) (1133-1189), son of Geoffrey V of Anjou and Matilda - grandson of Henry I; king 1154-1189 (sceptre and sword) (Wikipedia).
76. Richard I the Lionheart (1157-1199), son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine; king 1189-1199 (ensign and axe) (Wikipedia).
77. John Lackland (1166-1216), son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine; king 1199-1216 (document [Magna Charta] and feather) (Wikipedia).
78. Henry III (1207-1272), son of King John and Isabella of Angoulême; king 1216-1272 (trowel and model of Westminster cathedral) (Wikipedia).
79. Edward I (1239-1307), son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence; king 1272-1307 (poison-arrow) (Wikipedia).
80. Edward II (1284-1327), son of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile; king 1307-1327 (keeping a sceptre downwards) (Wikipedia).
81. Edward III (1312-1377), son of Edward II and Isabella of France; king 1327-1377 (garter) (Wikipedia).
82. Richard II (1367-1400), son of Edward, the Black Prince and Joan of Kent - grandson of Edward III; king 1377-1399 (sceptre and orb) (Wikipedia).

J. Lower stage, central

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83. S. Ceadda, St. Chad (d. 672), abbot of several monasteries, Bishop of the Northumbrians and subsequently Bishop of the Mercians and Lindsey People; built a monastery in Lichfield, patron of Lichfield cathedral (bishop's mitre and staff) (Wikipedia). Another statue of St. Chad is at the North Transept and Consistory Court.

K. Lower stage, right

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84. Peada, king of southern Mercia, 655-656 (embracing cross) (Wikipedia).
85. Wulfhere, King of Mercia, 658-675, son of Penda; endowed a major monastery at Medeshamstede, in modern Peterborough (model of Peterborough abbey and shield) (Wikipedia).
86. Ethelred, Æthelred, King of Mercia, 675-704, son of Penda (scrolls with four seals) (Wikipedia).
87. Offa, king of Mercia, 757-796, had pope Adrian I create the archdiocese of Lichfield (holding an archbishop's mitre in his hands) (Wikipedia).
88. Egbert, king of Wessex, 802-839 (orb and sceptre) (Wikipedia).
89. Ethelwolf, Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, 839-858 (sceptre and small scroll) (Wikipedia).
90. Ethelbert, Æthelberht, king of Wessex, 860-865 (crown on his lap and sword) (Wikipedia).
91. Ethelred, Æthelred, king of Wessex, 865-871 (book and axe) (Wikipedia).
92. Alfred the Great, king of Wessex, 871-899 (harp) (Wikipedia).
93. Edgar the Peaceful, king of England, 969-975 (wolf's head) (Wikipedia).
94. Canute, Cnut the Great, (c. 985 or 995 - 1035), more commonly known as Canute, king of Denmark, England, Norway, and parts of Sweden, together often referred to as the Anglo-Scandinavian or North Sea Empire (sword and orb, looking out) (Wikipedia).
95. Edward [the] Confessor, one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066 (staff with dove) (Wikipedia).

L. Lowest stage, left

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96. St. Cyprian (bishop's mitre, sword and book), Bishop of Carthage, 3rd century (Wikipedia).
97. St. Bartholomew (knife), apostle (Wikipedia).
98. St. Simon, St. Simon the Zealot (saw), apostle (Wikipedia).
99. St. James the Less., St. James the Minor (club and book), apostle (Wikipedia).
100. St. Thomas (setsquare), apostle (Wikipedia).
101. St. Philip (cross and book), apostle (Wikipedia).
102. St. Andrew (X-cross), apostle (Wikipedia).
103. [St. John the Evangelist] (pen and book), evangelist (Wikipedia).
104. St. Matthias (book and staff), apostle (Wikipedia).

M. Lowest stage, right

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105. St. Barnabas (stone, holding the Gospel of St. Matthew), apostle (Wikipedia).
106. [St. Peter] (keys and book), apostle (Wikipedia).
107. St. Paul (sword and book), apostle (Wikipedia).
108. St. Matthew (wallet), apostle (Wikipedia).
109. St. James, St. James the Greater (staff, book and shell), apostle (Wikipedia).
110. St. Jude (scroll), apostle (Wikipedia).
111. St. Stephen (stones and palm leaf), protomartyr (Wikipedia).
112. St. Clement (anchor and book), pope in the first century (Wikipedia).
113. St. Werburga, St. Werburgh (staff, book and a crown at her feet), 7th century Anglo-Saxon princess who became an English saint and the patron saint of Chester (Wikipedia).

Lichfield Cathedral - 153 statues

The exterior of Lichfield cathedral is extremely rich with sculpted statues. Only the west front has 113 statues! On the rest of the exterior are 40 more statues. To make our web pages manageable, we firstly limited ourselves in photographing the large statues (the pointed archivolts of the entrance are decorated with many figures as well), and secondly, divided the description into seven parts of the cathedral:

West Front - 113 statues. North Transept - 4 statues. Chapter House - 6 statues. Choir - 5 statues. Lady Chapel - 16 statues. Consistory Court - 2 statues. South Transept - 7 statues.

Sculptors

• Robert Bridgeman (1844-1918), architectural sculptor, ecclesiastical sculptor, stone carver and stonemason. From c. 1912 with his son Joseph Bridgman as Robert Bridgeman & Son, succeeded by grandson Charles William Bridgeman (1902-2004) until 1968 (Biography).
  
• Mary Grant (Kilgraston, Perthsire, 1831 - 1908), British sculptor.
  
• Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1848 - 1939), British sculptor and artist, daughter of Queen Victoria (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

• Lichfield Cathedral, Souvenir Guide: History of Lichfield Cathedral.
• The Victorian Web, Lichfield Cathedral (Victorian restoration mainly by Sir George Gilbert Scott): Exterior.
• Clifton, Arthur Benjamin. The Cathedral Church of Lichfield: A Description of Its Fabric and a Brief History of the Episcopal See. (London, 1898). Internet Archive. (cons. 27 June 2014)

Tags

Locatie (N 52°41'6" - W 1°49'52") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

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