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Lichfield St Mary in 1817

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Description from A Topographical History of Staffordshire by William Pitt (1817)

LICHFIELD ST MARY.

St. Mary's Church is situated on the south side of the market- place, in the central part of the city. According to an inscription on the steeple of the ancient structure, this church was first founded in the year 856, and this date is also recorded in the parish register.

The authenticity of this date, however, is questioned by Mr. Shaw, who proved a similar claim to antiquity in Wednesbury church to be a most egregious error. Indeed this desire to enhance the antiquity not only of places but of families, is among the common expedients of pride to impose upon ignorance.

Leland, in his Itinerary, says, "St. Marie's is a right beautiful piece of worke in the very market-place." It was certainly a beautiful gothic structure, with a lofty spire. The master and brethren of the gild of the Blessed Mary had a chantry here, which was dissolved in 1545 by Henry VIII. Afterwards the members of the Cathedral officiated at this church, but at length founded a distinct vicarage here, reserving to the Dean and Chapter the right of appointing the vicar.

During the persecution of the Protestant clergy in the short and sanguinary reign of the bigotted Queen Mary, William Langley, M.A. then minister of this church, was sequestered for preaching on Christmas-day, and administering the sacrament by the common prayer-book. John Butler, M.A. of Edmund-hall, Oxford, was ejected here after the Restoration.

In 1717 the old church being decayed, was taken down, and the present elegant edifice erected on its site. It was opened on the 30th of December, 1721, by the Rev. William Baker. The body of this church is neat, fitted-up with oak pews, and a spacious gallery. The altar-piece is handsome, and on the north side of it is the burying-place of the Dyott family, where stands a monument to the memory of Sir Richard Dyott, Knight, renowned for his fidelity to Charles I. during the Civil war.