St Chad’s Church, Lichfield

St Chad’s Church in Lichfield is one of those old parish churches which seems too close to the city’s cathedral, much like a corner shop a stone’s throw from a supermarket. The little church is, of course, older than the giant episcopal monolith. Chad of Mercia, the Anglo-Saxon missionary monk, came to the site of the church to live and pray, the spring to its rear now called St Chad’s Well. Back in the seventh century, during our ‘Dark Ages’, this would have been a quiet, rural place, not the noisy junction approaching the small but busy city.

I rather like the concept of going to a quiet, private place to pray and meditate. I also like the idea that such a place does not remain lonesome, but becomes a hive of activity, a centre of worship, a place of shared fellowship and a school for the imbibing of God’s word. Those who have quiet times with the Lord live busy, useful and efficient lives. That for which they seek, petition and desire, they are given, and they grow and blossom. Those who have no prayer times with the Lord are feeble and leave no legacy, for they either did nothing for Him or they were too busy plotting their own, selfish ambitions.

There is a place of quiet rest,
near to the heart of God;
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.

Refrain:
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before Thee,
near to the heart of God.

There is a place of comfort sweet,
near to the heart of God;
a place where we our Saviour meet,
near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release,
near to the heart of God;
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God.

-Cleland Boyd McAfee (1903)

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