112 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



ceeded to the north aisle. The Bishop sang- the first verse of the 

 100th psalm, which was repeated by the whole company. Then the 

 train passed to the body of the church, where the Bishop began the 

 102d psalm, which, when the Vicar's choral had concluded, he com- 

 manded the doors of the choir to be opened, and, in the same form, 

 first encompassed the south side. The Bishop began the first verse 

 of the 122d psalm ; the company finished it, and, with the like cere- 

 mony, proceeded to the north side, and sang the 131st psalm. 



"At the conclusion of the procession, Bishop Hackett went to the 

 faldisdroy, in the centre of the choir, and, after praying privately, 

 he with a loud voice called upon the people to join him in the Lord's 

 Prayer, and other devotions, suitable to the awful occasion. He 

 pronounced a solemn blessing upon the act in which they were en- 

 gaged, and upon all that were present. Then followed the usual 

 service of Morning prayer, two especial anthems being added, con- 

 tributions made for the poor, &c."* 



The expences of the repairs of the Cathedral amounted to 

 <9092. Is. 7d. of which Bishop Hackett contributed out of his 

 own purse the sum of cl,683. 12s. 



DESCRIPTION OF LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL IN ITS 

 MODERN STATE. 



The extent of this edifice from east to west is 411 feet in length, 

 and from north to south 67 feet in breadth. It is adorned by three 

 light and elegant spires ; the central spire is 25S feet 7 inches high, 

 and the two others in the west front 183 feet. The south steeple 

 contains ten bells. 



The west front is adorned with a rich variety of sculpture^ 

 particularly several figures the subjects of which were taken from 

 Sacred history. They are now rather indistinct, several of them 

 having been injured during the sieges of the Close. It is to be re- 

 gretted that the reddish stone of which the western front and its 

 ornaments are composed, is porable and of a very perishable nature. 

 It was, however, easily wrought by the sculptor, and as the stone 

 was to be procured in the neighbourhood, any mutilations might be 

 the more readily replaced. Bishop Hackett repaired such figures 

 as had been defaced ; and although time has again considerably 

 injured them, they present a variety of curious and interesting 

 objects, the effect of which is peculiarly grand and impressive. On 



* Shaw's History and Antiquities of Staffordshire, Vol. I. p. 243. 



