The statue of St Chad stands outside the Cathedral facing Dam Street at the end of what was originally the Pilgrims’ Way, where for centuries millions of people walked to the tomb of St Chad to pray for wholeness and healing. In the Middle Ages, Lichfield was one of the most important centres of pilgrimage on a par with Canterbury and Walsingham.

The statue of St Chad stands with one foot stepping forward as if he is about to step out of the Cathedral Close and into the city and beyond. 

Chad is holding a Bible based on actual pages of the St Chad’s Gospels (also knowns as the Lichfield Gospels) -  an eighth century Gospel Book housed in the Cathedral. His other hand is raised in blessing. As Chad hailed from the north-east, his face is modelled on that of a native Northumbrian.

The statue stands in the newly established Hope Garden where, during the pandemic, volunteers planted 50,000 bulbs which will flower around the time of St Chad’s Day (2nd March) each year as a gift of remembrance and hope to the city after the dark days of winter and a long Pandemic.

Why?

Lichfield Cathedral owes its origins to St Chad, the first Bishop of Lichfield whose Diocese in the 7th century covered the vast and powerful Saxon kingdom of Mercia.

Chad died on 2nd March 672 and so next year will mark the 1350th anniversary of his death. The statue will be an important focus for celebrations as Chad’s influence continues for centuries to come, as people seek a place where they can find healing, wholeness, meaning and stability, not least as we navigate our way out of the current pandemic.

Lichfield Cathedral continued to act as a centre for healing and wholeness when it opened its doors to work with the NHS to become a giant vaccination centre from January to March, attracting international attention as thousands of Lichfield residents received their Covid vaccines. Poignantly Chad died when a plague struck Mercia.    

Who?

Sculptor and designer Peter Walker’s work adorns towns and cities both nationally and internationally. For the past five years he has been Lichfield Cathedral’s artist-in-residence and artistic director. Peter is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors. Peter was born in Lichfield.    

How?

Peter undertook extensive research before creating over 100 drawings and studies in order to develop the design for the statue. The drawings were used to create a maquette (scale model) of the statue, first in Staffordshire clay and then cast in resin. The full sized sculpture was made in in the Cathedral Close and then cast into bronze at JL Foundry in Llanfyllin, Wales, where he has been in lockdown until now. 

Quotes

The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave OBE, 99th Bishop of Lichfield said:

“Thirteen and a half centuries ago, Chad was walking through this part of England sharing the good news of peace, love and hope for all in a divided society. It is to his humble and holy witness that we today owe our Christian life, and it is in his footsteps that we try to follow Christ as we share the gospel in our own time.” 

The Dean of Lichfield, the Very Revd Adrian Dorber said:
“As we move out of Lockdown at the end of a long and difficult pandemic, this new statue will provide a continuing waymark for centuries to come as people navigate their way through life, looking for reliable and friendly guides, whose words and actions were and are all of a piece.” 

Peter Walker, Sculptor (who was born in Lichfield) said:
“When I grew up in the area there was very little access to art. A place with art as a priority is one which really enriches the lives of those who live and work there and shows that the city values its past, present and future.”

Councillor Doug Pullen, Leader of Lichfield District Council

"This is such a wonderful tribute to the man who, by selecting Lichfield as the centre of his administration, shaped our city into what it is today. Contributing to the funding of this statue through our Lichfield City Art Fund will mean both residents and visitors alike have a new way of discovering his remarkable story."

The Venerable Bede, writing in the 8th century, said of Chad:
“A holy man of modest character, well read in the Scripture, and diligently practising those things which he had learned therein.”