St Chad is almost synonymous with Lichfield cathedral. Although he was bishop for less than three years, he remains at the heart of its identity and his cult flourished there for eight centuries, from his death in 672 until the destruction of his shrine in 1538. Despite almost all traces of the cult being swept away at the Reformation a surprising amount of evidence survives from which its medieval glory can be reconstructed.
This lecture will explore all facets of the cult: its shrines, images, altars, liturgy and feast days, and the Lives of St Chad as well as its popularity. In the later middle ages the cult was given new vigour by the benefactions of three medieval bishops, most notably Walter Langton, and its status was raised from an essentially local, diocesan cult to one observed across the whole province of Canterbury.
Dr David Lepine is a historian of the late medieval church with a particular interest in secular cathedrals and their canons. He has written extensively on the lives and careers of medieval clergy. His publications include work on cathedrals and charity, John Gower and the Church, clerical status and display, and the commemoration of clergy.
