St Chad of Mercia was born in about 634CE in Northumbria. Chad was one of four brothers who became active in the church, his brother Cedd also becoming a saint. Chad travelled to Ireland as a monk, it is here he joined the priesthood. He returned to England to help Cedd establish a monastery in Yorkshire. He later succeeded Cedd as Abbot of Lastingham monastery.
Chad was chosen to become the Bishop of Northumbria however he was deposed in 669 but later returned to favour as Bishop of the Mercians. King Wulfhere of Mercia provided Chad with land for monasteries in Barow and Lichfield close to the location of the cathedral. Chad died in 672, he was venerated as a saint almost immediately and his remains were moved to Lichfield cathedral. These relics remained at the cathedral until the reign of King Henry VIII.
However, unlike many relics the remains of St Chad are not thought to have been lost. The relics were retained by families in Staffordshire. After a time at a seminary in France, the relics (which have been carbon dated to the 7th century) were returned to England and are now stored at the Catholic Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham above the altar. St Chad's feast day is March 2nd. Many churches, especially in the Midlands, are dedicated to St Chad of Mercia.
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| St Chad, Wishaw |
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| Inside St Chad, Shrewsbury |
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| St Chad, Sutton Coldfield |
