June provides a selection of saints whom are remembered in the Church’s calendar. 

The first to St. Boniface on June 5th; the second is Columba Abbot of Iona on June 9th; The third is St Barnabas the apostle on June 11^th; The 4th is Richard Bishop of Chichester on June 16^th; the fifth Ethelreda, Abbess of Ely on June 23^rd; the sixth Ireneus, Bishop of Lyons on June 28^th and finally Peter and Paul the apostles on June 29th.

 Making a choice of one saint from this rich selection is not easy but I have decided to write about St. Richard of Chichester.

 His life was particularly colourful…and I suppose as with all Saints was controversial. 

Richard was born in Droitwich in 1197, the son of a yeoman farmer and proved to be a scholarly and diligent boy helping to restore the family fortune by working hard on the farm for a number of years.   With perhaps insight into his vocation one of his first important decisions was to refuse an advantageous offer of marriage and to chose a life of celibacy.

 Richard went on to Oxford, Paris and Bologna where he studied canon law.   Having completed his studies he returned to Oxford in 1235 and soon became Chancellor. He was a keen clerical reformer and was resistant to secular authority.  He shared exile in Pontigny with his former tutor, now Archbishop of Canterbury and was with him when he died. It was at this time in 1214 that Richard felt called to the priesthood and studied theology with the Dominicans at Orleans.

 He became priest and his first placement was at Charing and Deal in Kent.  He was very successful and in 1242 was elected Bishop but King Henry III and part of the governing chapter refused to accept him.  Boniface the Archbishop (not the saint commemorated on 5^th June) - refused to confirm the rival election and both sides appealed to the Pope.  The Pope’s decision was for Richard and he was consecrated at Lyons.  Richard then returned to England and to take up his position as bishop of Chichester where his contemporaries reckoned him to be a model diocesan Bishop, charitable and accessible; stern but merciful to sinners and generous to those who were in need.   Richard made many reforms and was a prominent preacher.  He was one who saw opportunities in the Holy Land and supported the principle of the Crusades as a call to a new life but not as a political expedition.    Richard died on the 3^rd April 1253 and was canonised in 1262.   His body was buried behind the high altar at Chichester Cathedral in 1276 and as a result the Cathedral became a pilgrimage centre for the rest of the Middle Ages.  Unfortunately his shrine was despoiled in 1538 and the body was buried secretly elsewhere.

Interestingly in Art Richard is represented with the chalice at his feet apparently because on one occasion he dropped the chalice with the consecrated wine but without a drop being spilled and he is remembered for this saving grace.   He is also particularly known as the author of a famous prayer:  Thanks be to thee my Lord Jesus Christ for all the benefits thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for me.  O most merciful redeemer friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day.

Top of page