Here is part two on the figures for the Two Saints Way. The Way of St. Chad goes in the opposite direction to St. Werburgh, starting in Chester. Like St. Werburgh, he too was active in the 7th century however unlike our goose loving saint, he came from a Celtic Christian background.
St. Chad was born in Northumbria to a wealthy family and spent his early adulthood on Lindisfarne becoming one of St. Aidan’s disciples. He spent time travelling in Ireland where St. Aidan was originally from. While abroad, his older brother Cedd, a well known figure in the church for his missionary work in East Anglia, had established a monastery at Lastingham in Yorkshire.
However in 664AD he died from the plague, but before he passed away, he had appointed St. Chad to take over his position. During his time at the monastery he gained a reputation for kindness and hospitality. Meanwhile another important figure of the time, St. Wilfred, was to become the Bishop of York and had left Britain to be ordained in France. (Britain at the time was considered too pagan for ordination to be officially stamped by the Catholic Church – I guess we have always been an uncouth lot!).
The King of Northumbira grew impatient with the lack of religious guidance and ordered St. Chad to Kent to be ordained as the Bishop of the Northern Church at York. He took to the task enthusiastically, and while traveling he would refuse to go by horseback, but instead walk. (You can see why I like this guy!)
However on St. Wilfred’s return it all got a bit political. He wasn’t happy St. Chad was ordained and the Bishop of Canterbury charged him of illegally holding his office. Not one for politics and power, St. Chad had only taken up the post out of a sense of duty and didn’t consider himself worthy of the position; he was happy to step down and return to Lastingham.
The Bishop of Canterbury was so touched by his humility and officially ordain him. In 669AD he was called to be the Bishop of Mercia, bringing him to the Midlands, specifically Lichfield. He is reputed to have performed baptisms at the well in St. Chad’s Church within the city, where he would spend hours praying while standing in its waters!
He died in 672AD and was venerated as a saint; a marble shrine adorned with precious stones and gold was commissioned to house his remains. During the reformation, the shrine was taken down and his bones were hidden over the centuries by Catholic families living in Staffordshire. Some were discovered at Aston Hall; these are now held in Birmingham Cathedral.
No fables involving fowl this time, but he is a fellow long distance walker and probably the reason why he spent such a long time standing in a well! He’s a fitting character for this through hike and I can’t wait to start (I wonder if there is a well to dip my feet in at Chester?!)
Stu's Camino 