Patron Saint of Lichfield
Saint Chad was one of three brothers born in Northumbria and was educated at the monastery on Lindisfarne under Saint Aidan. In 664 he succeeded his brother, Cedd as Abbot of Lastingham.
In 669 Chad became Bishop of Lichfield and today Saint Chad’s Well is to be found in the churchyard at Stowe on the north side of Lichfield town centre.
When he died on March 2, 672 his body was first buried in Saint Mary’s Church where miracles of healing were soon being reported.
Later the shrine of Saint Chad was a popular place of pilgrimage when an elaborate shrine was erected in the present cathedral. Many place names have associations with Saint Chad. One example is Hanmer in North East Wales that in the Domesday Book is simply called “St. Chad’s”. Within the ancient parish is Cadney (Chad’s island?) and nearby is the Gospel Meadow in which is the Gospel Pool. Less than a mile to the north is Llyn Beddyd (lake of Baptism), Eglwys Cross (‘Church Cross’) and a few hundred yards from the parish church of Saint Chad is a holy well.
Another instance is the oldest church in Shrewsbury. Built on a hill within the loop of the Severn (which at the time must have almost been an island) it was dedicated to St. Chad and was characteristic of a Celtic monastic settlement.
When the floor of Lichfield Cathedral was excavated in 2003 an eighth century limestone carving of the Angel Gabriel was found. It is believed to be part of the shrine of Saint Chad that was destroyed by the Vikings.
A new altar shrine has been made and dedicated in November 2022.
A relic of Saint Chad, the gift of the RC archdiocese of Birmingham and St Chad’s Cathedral was placed in the shrine which stands on the site of the original. The Icon of Saint Chad was painted by Aidan Hart for the cathedral some years ago.
Here in our benefice Saint Chad is to be found depicted in a window in Cockshutt Church with Saint Helena, the original patron of the Church.
CJ
Old St. Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury – Image Gallery
