St Edmund (Rich) of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury, 16th November

Edmund Rich was born in about the year 1175, the son of a merchant who himself became a monk later in life. Edmund was educated at Oxford and in Paris. After also teaching in both places, he became Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral in 1222 and was eventually made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1233. He was a reforming Bishop and, as well as bringing gifts of administration to his task, appointed clergy of outstanding talent to senior positions in the Church. He also acted as peacemaker between the king and his barons, many believing that his actions averted civil war. He died on this day in the year 1240.

Text Reproduced fromExciting Holinessbykind permission of Brother Tristam Holland SSF