Feast Day

April 3

The Church celebrates Richard of Chichester on April 3.

Richard of Chichester

Richard of Chichester

c. 1197 ADApril 3, 1253 AD

Richard of Chichester refused his brother's estates to pursue scholarship at Oxford and canon law at Bologna, returning to serve as Oxford's chancellor in 1240. Elected Bishop of Chichester in 1244, he spent two years homeless after King Henry III seized his properties and banned anyone from sheltering him — yet he continued his diocesan ministry on foot until Rome forced the king to relent.