Saint Chad of Mercia
Saint Chad of Mercia (also Ceadda; born c. 634 AD in Northumbria, England; died March 2, 672 AD in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England) was the first Bishop of Lichfield and a great missionary bishop of Mercia. He was a pupil of Saint Aidan at Lindisfarne and of Saint Fursey in Ireland. His characteristic humility — walking everywhere rather than riding — was famously reproved and overridden by Archbishop Theodore of Tarsus, who lifted him onto a horse himself. He is patron of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. His feast day is March 2.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Chad of Mercia
| Saint Chad of Mercia | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 02 |
| Profession | Bishop of Lichfield (669–672); monk; missionary bishop of Mercia |
| Rel. Affiliation | Diocese of Lichfield; Celtic-Roman tradition; Benedictine |
| Patronage | Archdiocese of Birmingham; Lichfield; Mercia; springs |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; a spring (water flows at his tomb); dove (his gentleness) |
| Birthplace | Northumbria, England |
| Death Place | Lichfield, Staffordshire, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; possibly plague |
| Primary Shrine | Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England — his relics were translated to a jeweled feretory in the medieval cathedral |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial |
| Historic Class | March 2 |
Biography
Chad (Ceadda in Old English) was the younger brother of Saint Cedd, another great missionary bishop. Both brothers were trained under Saint Aidan at Lindisfarne, the island monastery off the Northumbrian coast that was the wellspring of Celtic Christianity in northern England. Chad also studied in Ireland, at the monastery of Saint Fursey.
After his brother Cedd founded the monastery of Lastingham in Yorkshire, Chad served there. In 664 he was consecrated as Bishop of York (in an irregular fashion that Archbishop Theodore later questioned), but when Wilfrid returned from the continent, Chad stepped aside without controversy. His humility was already legendary.
In 669, King Wulfhere of Mercia requested a bishop for his kingdom. Archbishop Theodore of Tarsus (recently arrived from Rome) chose Chad and sent him to Lichfield. He is thus the first Bishop of Lichfield and the apostle of Mercia. Theodore — who initially questioned Chad's earlier consecration and re-consecrated him — became one of his great admirers. When he observed Chad traveling on foot through his vast diocese, he personally lifted the bishop onto a horse, saying that such an excellent man should not tire himself with walking.
Chad established his see at Lichfield, where he built a monastery near the bishop's house. He died on March 2, 672, reportedly after hearing angelic music above his cell — an event he described to his disciples — and was buried at Lichfield. His tomb immediately became a place of pilgrimage, and miraculous healings were reported there. Bede devotes a significant section of his Ecclesiastical History to Chad's virtues.
The medieval Lichfield Cathedral was built over his shrine, which became one of the great pilgrimage sites of medieval England. Head relics were later enshrined at the Cathedral Church of Saint Chad in Birmingham, which is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Northumbria, England
Death location: Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
Notable location: His episcopal see; the great medieval cathedral built over his burial place; his shrine a major pilgrimage destination in the Middle Ages (Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England)
Notable location: The island monastery where he was trained under Saint Aidan; the cradle of Northumbrian Christianity (Lindisfarne, Northumberland, England)
Notable location: The monastery founded by his brother Saint Cedd, where Chad also served (Lastingham, North Yorkshire, England)
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield, Staffordshire — the medieval shrine; some of his relics remain; the Lady Chapel is dedicated to him.
- Cathedral Church of Saint Chad, Birmingham — the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Birmingham; possesses head relics; designed by Augustus Pugin.
Feast day
March 2
Veneration
Saint Chad is venerated with a feast day on March 2 (Optional Memorial in the Roman Catholic Church). He is also commemorated in the Church of England on March 2 as a Lesser Festival.
Prayers
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