Today, March 2nd, the bells are ringing across the Shropshire plain for St. Chad (d. 672 AD). While many associate him with Lichfield Cathedral to our east, his story is actually tied to the ground right here—specifically the old Roman road between Chester and Wroxeter that cuts through our landscape.
The “Walking Bishop” of the West Midlands
Chad was the first leader of the community at Lichfield, but he wasn’t one for ceremony. He famously became known as the “Walking Bishop” because he refused to travel by horse.
Instead, he insisted on walking the Roman roads of Mercia at eye-level with the people he served.
When Chad traveled from his seat in Lichfield toward the strategic hubs of Shrewsbury and Chester, he used the reliable paving of the Roman highway. This path brought him directly through this stretch of country and past the high ground of Prees, where the local church still bears his name today—a literal landmark of his 7th-century work.
A Corridor for Saints and Kings
This wasn’t just a local track; it was a vital artery for the figures who built the early English church. Following closely in Chad’s footsteps was Winifred (d. c. 690 AD). If Chad broke the ground for this route, Winifred’s site at Holywell provided the destination.
Together, they turned these Roman roads into a well-traveled path for anyone seeking a deeper connection to the land. Later, famous monarchs recognized the importance of this Mercian corridor:
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Richard I, Edward I, and Henry VII all used this route.
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Even in darker times, the road remained the primary way north; Richard II rode walked this very stretch as a prisoner in 1399 after being detained at Flint.
A Legacy of Connection
Chad didn’t work alone. He was a close colleague of Erkenwald, the patron of London. Both were appointed in the 660s—Chad to the Mercians and Erkenwald to the East Saxons—and both were trained in a tradition that valued building stable, peaceful communities.
To remember Chad today is to recognize that our local history isn’t isolated. Whether it’s the stones of a London cathedral or the quiet fields here in Shropshire, the work of these 7th-century leaders remains linked.
Happy St. Chad’s Day to everyone marking it!
