CEADDA (CHAD) ABATE, SANTO

CEADDA (CHAD) abbot, saint. — Perhaps originally from Northumbria. The year of his birth is uncertain; he died, according to Bede, who is the best source for his life, in 672. He was educated at Lindisfarne and became abbot of Lastingham. Since the see of York was temporarily vacant due to the absence of its incumbent, St Wilfrid, who had gone to Gaul and was slow to return, he was invited by his king to occupy the see, which he did, thereby incurring the rebuke of St Theodore, bishop of Canterbury, who ordered him to yield the place to the incumbent who had returned. C. returned to his monastery, from which St Theodore took him in 669 to entrust him with the episcopal see of Lichfield in the kingdom of Mercia. His relics, at the time of the Protestant Reformation, were saved by Catholics and are now kept in the cathedral of Birmingham dedicated to him. His feast is celebrated on 2 March.