Sleeping Children of Lichfield

Lichfield Cathedral, like many churches of its size and class, is awash with statues. Although some, much to my Protestant disaproval, are used for the purposes of religious devotion, many others are simply memorials. Much as we might display photographs of a departed Grandma, the grieving people of yesteryear arranged for carvings or sculptures, if they could afford it. There are rulers and warriors…

Bishops and holy men:

Some recalling past, imperials glories:

Including one or two which later builders thought inconveniently placed:

Yet the most profound, I think, is called The Sleeping Children. These two individuals are Ellen Jane and Marianne Robinson. Their father was Prebendary William Robinson, Rector of Stoke upon Trent and of Swynnerton. When he died in 1812, Mrs Robinson and the children moved to Bath, but more sadness befell when in 1813, Marianne died. Mrs Robinson moved to London in the hope of finding a doctor for Ellen Jane, who was very ill with tuberculosis, but sadly Ellen died in 1815. In just three years Mrs Robinson lost her entire family.

Distraught, she commissioned Francis Chantrey, a leading sculptor, to produce a memorial. It was initially displayed at the Royal Academy Exhibition in London. Mrs Robinson's father was Dean of Lichfield and the monument came to the Cathedral after the exhibition in 1817. By far it is the most beautiful sculpture in the cathedral, even though it depicts the least significant subjects: a couple of girls who died too young.

Lamented a young father who lost a child over two thousand years earlier:

“While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

-2 Samuel 12:22-23

In Christ, there are great family reunions, for He reunites and restores.

A. D.