Roger Niger (died 1241) was a thirteenth-century cleric who became Bishop of London. He is also known as Saint Roger of Beeleigh.
Life
In 1192 Niger was named a canon of St Paul's Cathedral, London, and he held the prebend of Ealdland in the diocese of London. In 1218 he was promoted to Archdeacon of Colchester.Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 1, St. Paul's, London: Archdeacons: Colchester He was elected Bishop of London in 1228, and was consecrated bishop on 10 June 1229.Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 258Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: Volume 1, St. Paul's, London: Bishops
Niger died on 29 September 1241 or on 2 October 1241 and during his burial in Old St Paul's Cathedral, there was an eclipse of the sun. There was a tomb memorial to him in the quire there."Memorials of St Paul's Cathedral" Sinclair, W. p93: London; Chapman & Hall, Ltd; 1909 His heart was taken to Beeleigh Abbey near Maldon in Essex. Both sites became places of pilgrimage and he was referred to as a saint, although no formal canonisation has been located. He was, however, called a saint by at least one Pope. In 1391, Pope Boniface IX granted relaxation to penitents visiting and giving alms to Beeleigh Abbey on the anniversary of his death.Page and Round (ed.) "House of Premonstratensian Canons: Abbey of Beeleigh by Maldon" History of the County of Essex: Volume 2
Citations
References
Further reading
Nunn, S. P. St Roger of Beeleigh, Maldon Archaeological and Historical Group