Biography Page 1 of 3

St. Richard, also known as Richard de Wyche, or Richard of Burford, and more accurately referred to as St. Richard of Chichester, England, was born in 1197 in Wyche- now called Droitwich, Worcestershire, England. He was Bishop of Chichester from 1245 to 1253. Richard was a man of strong character, a scholar, but sensible and practical as well, energetic, kind, modest about his own powers, cheerful and courageous. He loved people and was greatly beloved by them

Richard was orphaned at an early age. His inheritance, his family's estate, was managed poorly until he came of age and took over the responsibility. Richard left his studies with the Benedictines at Worcester and came home to help restore the family fortunes. Gradually things got better; the farm was saved and returned to prosperity. Because his older brother Robert recognized that Richard was the more capable of the two, he offered to make over to him the inheritance, but neither this, nor the chance of marrying a rich and charming lady, could keep Richard from his books. Turning his back on the land, at last he set off for Oxford to resume his neglected studies.

He studied at Oxford University. When Richard arrived, about 1214, the colleges were still some years away; the first one, Merton, was not founded until 1262/64. Students enrolled with a Master, who rented his own hall for lectures and let out accommodations. Richard was poor and often cold and hungry. He shared one warm tunic and hooded gown with two friends, ran about to get warm in winter, and often ate only bread and thing vegetable soup. Despite the hardships of life, though, he said later that never in his life had he been so happy or felt such joy and peace of soul as during those years as a student at Oxford. He learned a Master's degree in canon law there, and went to Bologna, where he received his doctorate in canon law.

Richard continued his studies at Paris and Bologna. When his mentor and friend, Edmund Rich of Abingdon became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1235, Richard was made Chancellor of Oxford University. After Edmund died in 1240, Richard determined to become a priest. He studied theology with the Dominicans at Orleans. After two years he was ordained by the Bishop and returned to England as a parish priest in Kent.