Richard

Richard of Chichester

Richard of Chichester, also known as Richard de Wych, was a significant figure in the 13th-century English Church, serving as the Bishop of Chichester from 1244 to 1253. His life and legacy are marked by his dedication to religious reform, his asceticism, and his eventual canonization as a saint in both the Catholic and Anglican traditions. His influence extended to the patronage of Sussex, where his feast day is now celebrated as Sussex Day.

Life and Historical Context

Born into a gentry family near Droitwich, Worcestershire, Richard's early life was shaped by familial obligations and a preference for study over inheritance. He received his education at the University of Oxford and pursued further studies in canon law in Paris and Bologna. Upon returning to England, he held significant positions, including Oxford's chancellor and chancellor of the diocese of Canterbury under Archbishop Edmund of Abingdon. Richard's commitment to clerical reform and papal rights aligned with his mentors' ideals. Following the death of Archbishop Edmund, Richard continued his theological studies and served as a parish priest before being appointed chancellor of Canterbury again by Archbishop Boniface of Savoy.

His election as Bishop of Chichester in 1244 was met with opposition from King Henry III, but his consecration by Pope Innocent IV in 1245 affirmed his position. Despite initial resistance from the king, who confiscated the see's properties, Richard eventually regained them. His personal life was characterized by "rigid frugality and temperance"; he was an ascetic who practiced vegetarianism and refused to eat off silver. He was known for his severity towards usurers and corrupt clergy.

Major Contributions and Episcopal Statutes

Upon securing the full rights and revenues of the see in 1246, Richard focused on reforming the clergy's conduct and enhancing the reverence of Church services. He enacted a body of episcopal statutes with his chapter, which addressed various aspects of clerical life. These statutes included decrees on the deprivation of benefices for married clergy, the status of their partners, and requirements for chastity for ordination candidates. Rectors were expected to reside in their parishes and be hospitable, while tithes were to be strictly enforced. The statutes also detailed specific conduct for vicars, deacons, and archdeacons, emphasizing proper liturgical practices, clerical dress, and the prohibition of practices like gambling. A copy of these statutes was to be kept by every priest in the diocese.

Legacy and Veneration

Richard died in Dover on April 3, 1253, after being ordered by the Pope to preach a crusade. His internal organs were buried in Dover, while his body was transported to Chichester for burial. His remains were translated to a new shrine in 1276. The belief in miracles at his tomb led to his canonization in 1262. His shrine in Chichester Cathedral became a major pilgrimage destination, rivaling that of Thomas Becket, until its destruction in 1538 by order of Henry VIII. Today, Richard of Chichester is honored as the patron saint of Sussex. His feast day is celebrated on April 3 in the Roman Catholic Church and on June 16 in many provinces of the Anglican Communion, which also marks Sussex Day. A modern shrine to St. Richard exists in Chichester Cathedral, and relics believed to be his are housed there and in other locations. The widely known prayer attributed to him, often beginning with 'Day by day,' has been incorporated into various liturgical and musical works.