The thirteenth-century Bishop of Chichester remembered for his pastoral care of clergy and people, and for a prayer that still bears his name.

Richard de la Wich, better known as Richard of Chichester, served as Bishop of Chichester in England from 1244 until his death on the third of April 1253, at around fifty-five years old. He had earlier trained in law and theology on the Continent and served as chancellor to Archbishop Edmund of Abingdon before his own elevation to the episcopate. Pope Urban IV canonized him in 1262, less than a decade after his death, in recognition of his reforming, pastoral leadership of the diocese.

Quick Facts

• Born: c. 1198 (from recorded age at death)
• Died: 1253.04.03, aged about 55
• Bishop of Chichester, England: 1244–1253
• Canonized: 1262
• Feast Day: April 3

Who Was Saint Richard de la Wich?

Richard de la Wich governed the diocese of Chichester in southern England for nine years, from 1244 to his death in 1253, after a career that had already included legal study at Oxford, Paris, and Bologna and service as chancellor under Edmund of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury. He came to the bishopric only after a dispute with King Henry III over the royal candidate for the see was resolved in his favor by the pope, and he spent his short episcopate on visitation, clergy discipline, and care for the poor of his diocese.

Historical Setting

Mid-thirteenth-century England was a period of frequent friction between the crown and the English Church over the appointment of bishops, with kings pressing for candidates loyal to royal interests against the wishes of cathedral chapters and popes. Richard’s own appointment was contested by Henry III for several years, even after his election and consecration, leaving him for a time without access to the temporal revenues of his see. This backdrop of political struggle over Church appointments shaped much of his brief tenure as bishop.

Why the Church Remembers Saint Richard de la Wich

He is remembered as a conscientious reforming bishop who insisted on the moral and pastoral standards of his clergy, visited his diocese in person, and gave generously to the poor despite having had his temporalities withheld by the crown for years. His pastoral seriousness, following directly in the tradition of his mentor Edmund of Abingdon, made him a model bishop in the eyes of his contemporaries almost immediately after his death.

Canonization and Feast Day

Pope Urban IV canonized Saint Richard de la Wich in 1262, only nine years after his death, a comparatively swift process reflecting how quickly his reputation for holiness and pastoral diligence had spread. His feast is kept on the third of April, the anniversary of his death at Dover.

What Catholics Can Learn Today

Richard’s insistence on visiting his parishes, disciplining lax clergy, and giving to the poor even while deprived of his own diocesan income offers a clear model of pastoral integrity under pressure. He shows that faithful leadership does not wait for ideal circumstances; it does what it can with what it has, for the sake of the people in its care.

A Prayer to Saint Richard de la Wich

Saint Richard, faithful shepherd of Chichester, who cared for your people even when your own rights were denied you, teach bishops and all pastors to serve with patience and integrity in every circumstance. Help us to see You more clearly, love You more dearly, and follow You more nearly, day by day. Amen.

Sources

• Butler’s Lives of the Saints
• New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia
• Diocese of Chichester official history