Saint Chad of Mercia

Life story

According to Bede, Chad studied under Aidan at the monastery of Lindisfarne. He was the brother of Bishop Cedd, also a saint, and of Cynibil and Caelin. When Cedd died of plague in 664, Chad succeeded him as abbot of Lastingham.

In the same period King Oswiu appointed him bishop of the Northumbrians. He was ordained in Wessex by Bishop Wini and two British bishops, since Rome did not recognise them. Around 666 Wilfrid, a supporter of Roman practice, returned and disputed his position. In 669 Archbishop Theodore of Tarsus had Chad step down in Wilfrid's favour; he went back to Lastingham, and Theodore confirmed his ordination.

Theodore then recalled him to serve as bishop of the Mercians and the people of Lindsey under King Wulfhere, with Lichfield as the centre of the see. He died at Lichfield on 2 March 672, during a plague, and was buried near the church of St Mary. Bede describes angelic singing before his death. Bones attributed to him were enshrined at St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham in 1841, and a relic was placed in a new shrine in Lichfield Cathedral in 2022. The main source is Bede, supplemented by Stephen of Ripon's Life of Wilfrid.

Works and witness

• Studied under Aidan at Lindisfarne
• Succeeded his brother Cedd as abbot of Lastingham after 664
• Bishop of the Northumbrians from 664 to 669
• Bishop of the Mercians and Lindsey, based at Lichfield, from 669
• Died at Lichfield on 2 March 672

Saints from the same country

Saint Thomas Becket, Saint Thomas More, Saint Carlo Acutis, Saint Bede the Venerable

References

• Bede, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, III.23, III.28, IV.2-3
• Archdiocese of Birmingham, news on the relic of St Chad at Lichfield, 2022 (birminghamdiocese.org.uk)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.