Saint Edmund of Abingdon

Life story

Edmund was born at Abingdon, near Oxford, sometime in the 1170s or 1180s; sources disagree on the exact year. His parents were Reginald and Mabel Rich, and according to the Catholic Encyclopedia his father later entered the monastery of Eynsham. He studied at Oxford and Paris, then taught at both, specialising in theology. He was also known as a preacher and was commissioned to preach a crusade in England.

In 1222 he became treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral. In 1233 Pope Gregory IX appointed him archbishop of Canterbury, and he was consecrated on 2 April 1234.

During his tenure he defended the Church's rights against the demands of King Henry III, and he also fell into disputes with the monks of Rochester and Canterbury. In 1237 he travelled to Rome to press his case. After a papal legate was sent to England, the king undermined the legate's authority, and Edmund gradually concluded that he could not remain in England.

In 1240 he withdrew to the Cistercian abbey of Pontigny in France. When the summer heat drove him to Soisy, he died there on 16 November 1240, on his way to Rome. His body is venerated in the abbey church at Pontigny. Pope Innocent IV canonised him on 16 December 1246.

Works and witness

• Studied and taught theology at Oxford and Paris
• Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral from 1222
• Archbishop of Canterbury, consecrated 2 April 1234
• Defended Church rights against Henry III, travelling to Rome in 1237
• Died in France in 1240; canonised in 1246

Saints from the same country

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

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), St. Edmund Rich, New Advent (newadvent.org/cathen/05294a.htm)
• Wikipedia, Edmund of Abingdon (cross-check; source of 16 December 1246 canonisation date)

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