5One thousand three hundred years ago Lichfield Cathedral stood at the centre of the Kingdom of Mercia; it stands still, spires reaching into the sky, at the heart of England; an abiding symbol of the impact Christianity has had on our heritage. Its history is as rich and intricate as its decoration: from St Chad's anointment as Bishop of Mercia in 669 to the damage wrought during the bloody English Civil War to its restoration to medieval glory in the nineteenth century by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Written by Dr Jonathan Foyle, the broadcaster, architectural historian and passionate advocate for heritage sites, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in Britain's great medieval architecture. Also available from Scala: Cathedrals of the Church of England ISBN 9781857599404