Edmund of Abingdon

Edmund of Abingdon, also known as Edmund Rich or St Edmund of Canterbury, was an influential English Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1233 to 1240. Born around 1174 in Abingdon, Berkshire, he developed a reputation as an ascetic and a respected lecturer in mathematics, dialectics, and theology at the Universities of Paris and Oxford, where he promoted the study of Aristotle.

After being ordained a priest and earning a doctorate in divinity, Edmund became known not only for his theological lectures but also as a popular preacher. He spent many years traveling within England and participated in preaching the Sixth Crusade in 1227. His life was characterized by self-sacrifice and devotion, including practicing asceticism from a young age, such as fasting and wearing a hair shirt, and dedicating much of his nights to prayer and meditation.

As Archbishop of Canterbury, a position he reluctantly accepted, Edmund combined a gentle personal temperament with a strong public stature. He was known for his severity towards King Henry III in defense of Magna Carta and in general for good civil and Church government and justice. He also worked to enforce strict observance in monastic life and negotiated peace with Llywelyn the Great. These policies, however, led to hostility from the king and opposition from several monasteries.

Edmund died in France in 1240 at the beginning of a journey to Rome. Miracles were alleged to have occurred at his grave shortly after his death, and he was canonized in 1246. His feast day is celebrated on November 16th. Edmund's body was not translated to Canterbury due to the resentment of the Benedictine community there. His main relics are now found at Pontigny Abbey in France, with an arm enshrined in Connecticut. He is remembered today in the names of educational institutions such as St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and St Edmund's College, Cambridge.