The Saturday Magazine, No. 66, July 1833

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.
LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL.
Vol. III.
The first authentic mention of Lichfield occurs in Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, where it is alluded to as the See of an Anglo-Saxon Bishop. The name is of Saxon origin, but its etymology has been much disputed. In the Saxon Chronicle the word is written Licetfeld ; in Bede, Lyccetfelth and Licitfeld . Some etymologists derive its signification from leccian , to water (and it is well known to have abounded in numerous lakes and pools); others, from the verb licean or lician , to like, or to be agreeable, and therefore make it to signify Pleasant Field. It has however been more frequently allowed to be derived from lic , a dead body, and consequently as signifying cadaverum campus , the Field of Dead Bodies. This derivation is supported by a prevailing tradition, of the martyrdom of a thousand British Christians on this spot, at the time of the persecution (A. D. 303) under Dioclesian, when Maximian was governor of Britain.
It is certain that the present diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, anciently formed a part of the kingdom of Mercia, which, being conquered by (the Christian King ) Oswy, introduced the Christian faith into this powerful kingdom of the Saxon Heptarchy. He made Lichfield an episcopal See, by appointing Diuma, a Scotsman, the first Bishop, A. D. 656. After a succession of three others, the famous Ceadda, or Chad, was raised to the Bishopric A. D. 667. Bede informs us, that “he had built himself an habitation not far removed from the church; wherein he was wont to pray, and read with a few, that is, seven or eight, of the brethren, as often as he had any spare time from the labour and ministry of the word.”
From this period, little is known of the history of the See till after the Norman Conquest, when at the National Council held in London, A. D. 1075, it was determined to remove the See of Lichfield to Chester, which was done by Peter (the first bishop appointed by William the Conqueror), who went by the appellation of Bishop of Chester and Lichfield. Robert de Lymesey was his successor, and removed the See to Coventry, having obtained from the King, the custody of that Abbey (originally founded by Canute); this edifice having been restored and greatly enriched by Leofric, Earl of Hereford, and his celebrated wife Lady Godiva. Robert Peeke, chaplain to Henry the First, was consecrated to this See, A. D. 1117, and was succeeded, 1128, by Roger de Clinton, who was a liberal benefactor both to the city and Cathedral church of Lichfield. He is said to have rebuilt great part at the latter, to have increased the number of Prebendaries, and to have appointed the first Canons. De Clinton restored the See to Lichfield, and styled himself Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. Until the establishment of Chester as a separate See, A. D. 1542, the succeeding bishops were indifferently called Bishops of Lichfield, Coventry, and Chester, having an episcopal residence at each place. Coventry and Lichfield was the usual designation till Bishop Hacket, on the restoration of the monarchy, placed Lichfield before Coventry, as a compliment to the loyalty of the former place. Walter de Langton succeeded to the See in 1295, and did much benefit to the city, forming streets, causeways, &c.; he augmented the income of the Vicars, expended 2000 l. on a shrine for St. Chad, and rebuilt the Bishop’s Palace, giving the old episcopal house to the Vicars Choral.