Detail of A Stained Glass Window of Saint Chad of Mercia 1920 And Artist Unknown Chapel of The Holy Cross Monastery West Park New York Photographed On 9 July 2007 By Randy Ohc

Saint Chad of Mercia

Also known as: Chad of Lichfield; Ceadda of….; Apostle of Mercia

Saint

Pre-Congregation

Feast Day

2 March; 4 May (translation of relics)

Born

C.620 in Northumbria, England

Died

2 March 672 at Lichfield, England of natural causes after a brief illness, probably the plague; his initial tomb was in the form of a small wooden house; some relics preserved in the cathedral of Saint Chad in Birmingham, England

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Biography

Saint Chad of Mercia, brother of Saints Cedd and Cynibild, was a revered missionary monk whose life exemplified humble service. Ordained in 653 after studying Latin and astronomy, he served as abbot at Lastingham monastery in Yorkshire, guiding Saint Owen. His episcopal journey began unexpectedly when King Oswiu, deeming the see of Lindisfarne vacant after Bishop Wilfrid’s prolonged absence in Gaul, appointed Chad as Bishop of York in 664. Though feeling unworthy, Chad embraced his duty, traversing his vast diocese on foot to evangelize diligently. His tenure was short-lived, however; upon Wilfrid’s return in 666, Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury declared Chad

Patron Saint Of

Birmingham, England, archdiocese of

Lichfield, England, diocese of

Representations & Symbols

Bishop holding Lichfield Cathedral and a branch, usually a vine

bishop holding the cathedral in the midst of a battlefield with the dead surrounding him

man with a hart leading hunters to him by a pool

converting Saint Wulfhald and Saint Rufinus who converted on finding him in chapel while they were hunting

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