Background
Edmund was born November 20 circa 1175, at Abingdon in Oxfordshire, England. "Rich" was an epithet sometimes given to his wealthy merchant father. It was never applied to Edmund or his siblings in their lifetimes.
Edmund was born November 20 circa 1175, at Abingdon in Oxfordshire, England. "Rich" was an epithet sometimes given to his wealthy merchant father. It was never applied to Edmund or his siblings in their lifetimes.
His early studies were in England. He studied at Oxford and from 1195 to 1202 in Paris, studied theology at Paris.
Edmund became a teacher about 1200, or a little earlier. Between 1205 and 1210 he received ordination, took a doctorate in divinity and soon became known as a lecturer on theology and as an extemporaneous preacher. For six years he lectured on mathematics and dialectics, apparently dividing his time between Oxford and Paris, and helped introduce the study of Aristotle. Edmund became one of Oxford's first lecturers with a Master of Arts.
Canon and treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral in 1222, he was appointed papal preacher of the Crusade in 1227. In 1233 he was elected, and in 1234 consecrated archbishop of Canterbury.
He resented the king Henry III's foreign advisers and boldly reproved exactions of money from Jews and the English clergy. To Henry's opposition was added that of the papal legate whom the king obtained in 1237 from Pope Gregory IX, and of the monks of Rochester and Canterbury.
Considering himself unable to prevent injustices, Edmund eventually retired in 1240 to Pontigny, in France he became sick, began travelling back to England, but died only 50 miles further north, on 16 November 1240, at the house of Augustinian Canons at Soisy-Bouy and was taken back to Pontigny.
From boyhood he practised asceticism; such as fasting on Saturdays on bread and water, and wearing a hair shirt.
Edmund's life was one of self-sacrifice and devotion to others. After snatching a few hours' sleep, most of the night he spent in prayer and meditation. While of an attractive character, harsh to himself and kind to others, he was scarcely fitted by previous experience for an office the prerogatives of which he felt obliged to defend at the price of conflict with the king, Henry III.