The chill of a March morning did little to dampen the spirit within St. Chad’s in Shrewsbury.
Today, the second of March, marks the feast day of St. Chad, a figure whose life is an example of reconciliation and service.
This year, the 0800 service was presided over by The Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, who delivered a powerful address that bridged the centuries.
St. Chad, a Northumbrian by birth, found himself serving in the kingdom of Mercia, a former enemy. This historical backdrop, fraught with tension and division, mirrored the challenges we face in our own times. Bishop Ipgrave’s address drew parallels between the bitterness of the Anglo-Saxon forging of England and the divisions that plague our modern world. He spoke of Chad’s commitment to his faith and his people, even amidst hostility, and invited listeners to emulate his example.
Mercia in time of Chad
Chad’s story is one of remarkable humility and dedication. Born in Northumberland, he ventured south to serve in Mercia, becoming the Bishop of Mercia. His preference for traveling on foot, a deliberate act of simplicity, is an expression of humility.
Bishop Michael’s reminded that Chad’s example is not merely a historical relic. The divisions we witness today, the political strife, the social unrest, the global conflicts, all resonate with the tensions of Chad’s time.
How do we respond? Chad’s life offers a pathway: through humility, through service, through a willingness to bridge divides.
