When I was a child, my Dad used to draw images of Chad – a bald chap with a long nose, peering over a wall. This cartoon had come to prominence in WW2, where there would be a caption with it saying, “Wot, no …?” depending upon whichever shortage was being complained about.
But today, 2nd March was actually the day that the real Chad – St Chad in fact – died in 672. He was one of England’s earliest missionaries, his headquarters being at Litchfield in Staffordshire, and became the patron saint of medicinal springs. In fact, many pilgrims were allegedly cured at Chad’s wells – and the name Chadwell lives on in London.
During the Civil War, Lord Brooke, leading the Parliamentarians, was in Litchfield Cathedral and prayed that if his cause was unjust, he might die. He had hardly got up from his knees when he was struck down by a hail of musket bullets…
Oh yes – this happened on St Chad’s day in 1643. So, not just tempting providence but tempting St Chad as well?
But today, 2nd March was actually the day that the real Chad – St Chad in fact – died in 672. He was one of England’s earliest missionaries, his headquarters being at Litchfield in Staffordshire, and became the patron saint of medicinal springs. In fact, many pilgrims were allegedly cured at Chad’s wells – and the name Chadwell lives on in London.
During the Civil War, Lord Brooke, leading the Parliamentarians, was in Litchfield Cathedral and prayed that if his cause was unjust, he might die. He had hardly got up from his knees when he was struck down by a hail of musket bullets…
Oh yes – this happened on St Chad’s day in 1643. So, not just tempting providence but tempting St Chad as well?
