April 3: Saint Richard's Day

Céline Arétin, culture, women's issues and environment correspondent, April 3, 2025

Who was Richard of Chichester?

Richard of Chichester, born in 1197 in Wych (present-day Droitwich, Worcestershire) and died on April 3, 1253, was Bishop of Chichester from 1245 until his death. After studying at Oxford, Paris and Bologna, he became chancellor of the University of Oxford, then chancellor to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Edmund Rich. In 1244, he was elected Bishop of Chichester, but King Henry III opposed this election, forcing Richard to live in poverty until Pope Innocent IV intervened on his behalf.

Official recognition of Saint Richard

Saint Richard of Chichester was canonized on January 22, 1262, by Pope Urban IV, less than ten years after his death. In England, Saint Richard is recognized as the patron saint of the county of Sussex, and Chichester Cathedral still houses an altar dedicated to him today. His name appears in the liturgical calendar of both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, where he is celebrated as a model of piety and pastoral devotion. In 1276, his relics were transferred to a new shrine installed in Chichester Cathedral, which later became a pilgrimage site until its destruction during the English Reformation under Henry VIII. Institutions such as St Richard's Catholic College in Bexhill-on-Sea, St Richard's Church in Chichester, and All Saints' & St Richard's Church of England Primary School in Old Heathfield bear his name in memory of his religious commitment in Sussex.

Saint Richard in art and literature

At Chichester Cathedral, a stone statue depicts him on the west front, holding a crosier and blessing with his right hand. Inside, a 19th-century stained-glass window, located in the Chapel of Saint Richard, illustrates scenes from his life, notably his election as bishop and his charitable works. In 2003, a bronze sculpture of Saint Richard was installed in the cathedral in memory of his pastoral work. In literature, the Prayer of Saint Richard, beginning with the words "Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ...", is one of his most famous texts, often included in collections of Christian prayers.