Saint Richard of Chichester
Saint Richard of Chichester (born c. 1197 AD in Worcestershire, England; died April 3, 1253 AD in Dover, Kent, England) was the Bishop of Chichester who is known for his learning, his austerity, his charitable work among the poor, and for the prayer bearing his name: "Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits thou hast given me..." — a prayer used in the musical Godspell. He is patron of the Diocese of Chichester. His feast day is April 3.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Richard of Chichester
| Saint Richard of Chichester | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | April 03 |
| Profession | Bishop of Chichester; Chancellor of Oxford University; Chancellor of the Archbishop of Canterbury; confessor; scholar |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Church of England (venerated); Diocese of Chichester; 13th-century English Catholicism; Oxford University; companion of Saint Edmund of Abingdon |
| Patronage | Diocese of Chichester; Chichester; Sussex; coachmen and carters (from a miracle involving his chalice); students; those who refuse to compromise episcopal integrity |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; chalice (he once dropped a chalice while celebrating Mass; the wine was miraculously retained); bare feet (his poverty); the "Day by Day" prayer text; wheat sheaves (his early life included farm labor); Oxford setting |
| Birthplace | Worcestershire, England |
| Death Place | Dover, Kent, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died April 3, 1253, at Dover, while preaching a crusade at the request of Pope Innocent IV; he had been traveling in poor health and died at the house of the Brothers of Saint John the Baptist; he died in great poverty, having given virtually everything he owned to the poor |
| Primary Shrine | Chichester Cathedral — site of his destroyed shrine (1538); modern memorial plaque; oak carving; his relics dispersed after the Reformation; local pilgrimage tradition maintained; feast April 3 observed with solemn Mass |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); April 3; Feast in England and Wales; Feast in Diocese of Chichester |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed in England |
Biography
Richard was born c. 1197 in Worcestershire, England. He studied at Oxford, Paris, and Bologna (canon law) and became Chancellor of Oxford University in 1235. He served as Chancellor to Archbishop Edmund of Abingdon of Canterbury and was with Edmund at his death in France in 1240.
He was elected Bishop of Chichester in 1244 but King Henry III refused to recognize him. For two years he lived in poverty — moving from parish to parish on foot, celebrating Mass wherever possible — until the Pope threatened Henry with excommunication and the king relented.
Even after receiving the temporalities of his see, he continued to live simply and give his income to the poor. He walked barefoot; he ate little; he cared for the sick and poor personally.
He died at Dover on April 3, 1253, while preaching a crusade at the Pope's request. He died in great poverty, having given everything away.
Pope Urban IV canonized him at Viterbo in 1262. His prayer — "Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ..." — became famous worldwide through the musical Godspell (1971).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Worcestershire, England
Death location: Dover, Kent, England
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Richard of Chichester have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| St. Richard of Chichester: Defender of Faith | Under 5 minutes | Good Catholic |
| Prayer to St. Richard of Chichester | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Saint Richard of Chichester: A Life of Faith, Humility, and Service | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Saint Richard of Chichester - April 3rd | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
| St. Richard of Chichester: Defender of Faith | Under 5 minutes | The Saint of the Day Podcast |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Chichester Cathedral — site of his destroyed shrine; modern oak carving and memorial.
Feast day
April 3
Veneration
Saint Richard of Chichester is a 13th-century English bishop known for his poverty, his care for the poor, and the prayer "Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ..." — popularized worldwide through the musical Godspell. His feast is April 3.
Prayers
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There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.