Saint Hugh of Lincoln
Saint Hugh of Lincoln (born c. 1135 AD in Avalon, Burgundy, modern France; died November 16, 1200 AD in London, England) was a Carthusian monk and Bishop of Lincoln — the largest diocese in medieval England — who governed it with extraordinary wisdom, justice, and personal holiness. He defied King Henry II, Richard I, and John over ecclesiastical taxation and royal interference in Church affairs. He personally cared for lepers. He was the first Carthusian to be canonized. A swan was his constant companion at his palace at Stow. His feast day is November 17.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Hugh of Lincoln
| Saint Hugh of Lincoln | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 17 |
| Profession | Carthusian monk; prior; bishop; chaplain of lepers |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Carthusian Order (Order of Carthusians); Bishop of Lincoln 1186–1200; first Carthusian to be canonized |
| Patronage | Lincoln; Lincolnshire; swans; sick children; the Carthusian Order; those who care for lepers; bishops who resist royal pressure |
| Attributes | White Carthusian habit; swan (his companion at Stow); bishop's vestments and mitre; leper (his charity); Lincoln Cathedral model |
| Birthplace | Avalon, Burgundy, modern France |
| Death Place | London, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died in London after returning from a diplomatic mission to France; November 16, 1200 |
| Primary Shrine | Lincoln Cathedral (Angel Choir), Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England — his shrine was in the Angel Choir; one of the most important medieval pilgrimage shrines in England; destroyed at the Reformation; his tomb remains; Lincoln Cathedral is one of the finest Gothic buildings in the world |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast November 17; observed in England and the Diocese of Nottingham |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed in England |
Biography
Hugh was born around 1135 at Avalon in Burgundy. He entered the Augustinian canons as a boy and then joined the Carthusians at the Grande Chartreuse — the mother house of the Carthusian Order — drawn by the severity and contemplative depth of Carthusian life.
King Henry II of England, seeking to found the first English Carthusian house as part of his penance for the murder of Saint Thomas Becket, imported Hugh from the Grande Chartreuse to be prior of Witham Priory in Somerset (c. 1175). Hugh proved an extraordinary prior — governing the house wisely, defending the rights of local peasants displaced by the foundation, and winning the king's personal respect. Henry II had a genuine affection for Hugh that was unusual in a monarch; the two men could argue fiercely over Church rights and yet remain friends.
In 1186 Henry appointed him Bishop of Lincoln — the largest diocese in England, stretching from the Thames to the Humber. Hugh governed it for fourteen years with extraordinary energy: he rebuilt the cathedral after an earthquake, administered justice rigorously, cared personally for lepers, and stood firm against royal demands for Church revenue from Richard I (Coeur de Lion) and later John (though John gave Hugh some respect). He had a particular gift for personal encounter — he could calm crowds, reason with kings, and console the dying.
At his manor at Stow, a wild swan became his constant companion — a charming detail that endeared him to popular devotion and gave him his most recognizable iconographic attribute.
He died in London on November 16, 1200, returning from a diplomatic mission. His body was carried to Lincoln in a solemn procession that took several days; kings of England and Scotland both helped to carry his bier. Pope Honorius III canonized him in 1220 — the first Carthusian saint.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Avalon, Burgundy, modern France
Death location: London, England
Notable location:
Notable location: He was the founding prior of the first English Carthusian monastery, established at Witham in Somerset at King Henry II's request (as part of Henry's penance for the murder of Thomas Becket); his leadership of Witham brought him to the king's attention and led to his appointment as Bishop of Lincoln (Witham Priory, Somerset, England)
Notable location: His manor at Stow, where a wild swan became his devoted companion — guarding him and eating from his hand; this swan is his primary iconographic symbol and one of the most charming animal-friend stories in English hagiography (Stow, Lincolnshire, England)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
| Hugh of Lincoln |
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
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| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
| St. Hugh of Lincoln (Diocese of Rockville Centre) | Diocese of Rockville Centre | Huntington Station, NY | New York | United States | http://www.sthugh.org |
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Hugh of Lincoln - November 17th | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Lincoln Cathedral (Angel Choir), Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England — his shrine (destroyed at the Reformation); his tomb remains; the Angel Choir is one of the supreme achievements of English Gothic architecture.
Feast day
November 17
Veneration
Saint Hugh of Lincoln is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on November 17, observed in England and the Diocese of Nottingham. He is the first canonized Carthusian.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.