Chelmsford Leaders Receive Historic Stone from Lichfield Cathedral

Two Church leaders from the Diocese of Chelmsford received a stone from Lichfield Cathedral as a symbol of shared faith.

Canon Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral, the Revd Canon Dr Gregory Platten; the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave; The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani and Dean of Chelmsford, the Very Revd Dr Jessica Martin
(Photo: Diocese of Chelmsford)

In a symbolic gesture highlighting the deep historic ties between two dioceses, church leaders from Chelmsford have received a stone from Lichfield Cathedral. This stone, taken from one of the cathedral’s spires, serves as a “lasting symbol of faith and shared heritage” and will be housed at St Peter-on-the-Wall in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex.

The Bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani, along with the Dean of Chelmsford, Jessica Martin, journeyed to Lichfield to collect this significant stone. Their mission was a continuation of the 2025 Bradwell Pilgrimage, marking the historic connection between their dioceses.

Historically, these connections date back to the early days of Christianity in Britain. In the 7th century, St Cedd, after his time at Lindisfarne, became a missionary bishop to the Midlands and the East Saxons, now known as Essex. St Cedd is credited with constructing St Peter’s Chapel circa 654 AD, while his brother, St Chad, served as the Bishop of Lichfield.

St Peter’s Chapel, a continuing place of worship, already includes stones from significant Christian sites such as Iona, Lindisfarne, and Lastingham. The addition of the Lichfield stone complements the theme of this year’s Bradwell pilgrimage: “Living Stones”.

The presentation of the stone was made by Bishop Michael Ipgrave of Lichfield and Canon Chancellor Gregory Platten. The stone is set to be consecrated during the pilgrimage before taking its place at the altar of St Peter’s.

Bishop Francis-Dehqani expressed her gratitude, saying, “We were warmly welcomed at Lichfield Cathedral, and it was wonderful to celebrate the bond between our two dioceses. The story we share – of Cedd and Chad – is not merely part of our history, but a living faith that continues to unite and inspire us. This stone stands as a powerful symbol of that story: of faith, mission and our shared heritage. I am delighted that it will be placed within the altar at St Peter’s Chapel in Bradwell-on-Sea and I look forward to celebrating its new home at this year’s Bradwell Pilgrimage.”

This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com