The ever-kontroversial Saintly Kitsch Week continues with a tough choice between Harriet Tubman and Hilda of Whitby. Harriet made it thus far by storming past Nicholas Ferrar and Martha of Bethany. Hilda of Whitby made it to the Elate Eight by overwhelming Samuel Seabury before holding off a pesky Ignatius of Antioch. The winner of this match-up will earn a spot in the Faithful Four and a date with Frances Perkins. Get a preview of today's match-up from the hardest working video blogger this side of the Yukon Territory, Maple Anglican.
Yesterday we bid farewell to a valiant Florence Li Tim-Oi as she was soundly defeated by Oscar Romero. The martyred archbishop of El Salvador will now face the winner of tomorrow's battle between Luke and Dorothy Day.
We're halfway through the Elate Eight! By the weekend there will be just four saints standing. Is your favorite still in the bracket? Do you have someone you're passionately pulling for? Are you out campaigning and driving all of your friends and relatives crazy with this little churchy game you're playing? Has Lent ever been so awesome? Have you ever dreaded the approach of Easter? These are some of the questions hanging out there as you prepare to face more kitsch.
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Ross Tubman, abolitionist, activist, soldier, spy, visionary and all-around fighter for justice, has much paraphernalia to her illustrious name.
First of all, there is an elementary school named after Harriet. They have much merchandise for the purchasing, and they are the Harriet Tubman Frogs. No clue why, but hey, frogs are intrepid little amphibians with their transforming and their adaptiveness! So, you go Harriet Tubman Frogs of Washington DC! Hop with bravery!
While you're hopping, you might get scared. In this case, why not get a cute Harriet Tubman-quoting teddy bear? YES. These exist.
(Ok, it would appear that this bear is quoting Hilary Clinton, who is quoting Harriet Tubman, at the '08 DNC, all in support of Obama in 2008. Which is a heck of a lot for one small bear's tummy to do, but still. Behold a multitasking teddy bear!)
If the idea of a politically-affiliated plush toy upset you, I have a solution. Behold, Harriet 
Tubman barware! We have several options here:
One, if you are assured of your closeness with Lady Moses, and one if you have some humility about you, somewhere.
(These are also available as wine chillers, for you die-hard Episcopalians.)
But if you are inspired, and want to fully decorate your abode in this theme, this can be done. Here, Tubman-themed throw pillows, and Tubman-quoting messenger bags.
(You thought the bear was confused on his message -- I don't know what the throw pillow is communicating. But you can get that message on a teddy bear too, so if the earlier teddy bear confused you, here's a viable alternative. You can also get this message on a pet bowl, which I'm not even going to attempt to unpack.)
Then, we have the usual dizzying array of t-shirts. Again, we have ones for those who want to take on the saint's identity:
And finally, we have my personal favorite:
As for me, I am totally ordering one of those glasses.
Hilda of Whitby
Hilda, the great Abbess of the double monastery at Whitby, is more appropriately known as Hild of Streaneschalch (this proper Old English form of her name). However, since most of us can barely spell Episcopalian without spell-check, she is known in the church and throughout the world as Hilda.
Whitby is seaside town in the English county of North Yorkshire. The actual monastery was sacked by the Vikings in the 9th-century and dissolved under Henry the VIII’s reign, eventually falling into ruins. The Abbey ruins inspired Count Dracula’s castle and served as a prominent landmark for sailors. So, if you’re looking to meld God and the current vampire fad together, you can purchase this stunning hat that shows you are hip and holy, all at the same time. Especially tasteful is the elegant “trucker cut” of the hat, sure to be flattering on clergy and laity alike.
Being a coastal town, the beaches of Whitby are home to ancient ammonite fossils. To the mere novice, they might simply look
like the fossilized remains of prehistoric predatory squid-like creatures (hey, I wonder the Sy-Fy Channel has considered a “The Horrors of Hilda” movie, pitting predatory squids against Dracula? But I digress…). To the knowledgeable readers of Lent Madness, you know that these are in fact the skeletal remains of the plague of snakes that Hilda turned to stone after they messed with the wrong abbess. Scientists even named the genus of these particular ammonites Hildoceras. Hilda’s ammonites exist today, commonly known as snakestones. You, too, can order any number of jeweled settings such as this lovely silver cuff bracelet. Because trust me, it’s the classiest thing in this post.
If you’d like to read more about this particular snakes-to-stone account, Sir Walter Scott wrote all about it in his epic poem Marmion, filled with accounts of lust, betrayal, dishonest nuns, duels, being walled up alive, heroism, and love. Hilda’s involvement in the plot of about the locale only, in case you’re wondering if she and John Donne had more in common than being Anglican saints.
Hilda’s monasteries became havens for those looking to worship God, live in community, and be educated. Hilda saw the poetic skills of Caedmon 
and urged him to write poetry in his native tongue. Her efforts as Abbess led to her being named the patron saint of learning, culture, and poetry. Several schools are named in her honor, including the College of St. Hild and St. Bede, which has produced many scholars, artists, musicians, politicians, religious leaders, and not one, but two – two, I say -- of the actors who portrayed James Bond.
Historian JoAnn McNamara says of Hilda: She assumed a prestige usually reserved for bishops when she presided over the Synod where the Irish and Roman churches compete for the allegiance of the Northumbrian king. Hilda is likely most remembered for her presence at the Synod of Whitby. Hilda, along with St. Colman, lobbied for the Celtic expression of Christianity. Wilfrid supported the Romanized expression of the faith. In the end, Wilfrid and his supporters won. Hilda graciously accepted defeat and implored all present to conform to the Synod’s decision. Hilda may have conformed, but legend holds that she remained a critic of Wilfrid for the remainder of her life, even challenging his decision to withhold part of his diocese from one of Hilda’s protégé’s who was establishing a new monastery by sending her personal ambassador to the Holy See. Hilda, it seems, may have conformed to Romanized Christianity, but she still had Wilfrid’s number and may have used her very own iPhone case to call him out on occasion.
Some criticize Hilda’s actions at Whitby. Perhaps if she had lobbied harder, Celtic Christianity would have held
the day and produced a very different Church. Maybe. Maybe not. Hilda, we may surmise, was personally not pleased with the outcome, but she did realize the value of community unity over personal opinion. But one does wonder if, had this nifty shirt been available in the Whitby gift shop, she would have made it part of her regular monastic fashion.
-- Laurie Brock
Vote!
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126 comments on “Harriet Tubman vs. Hilda of Whitby”
First, *finally* a decently kitchsy round.
Second, I am pretty sure there's a goth festival at Whitby every year! Yup: http://www.whitbygothweekend.com/
That's gotta count for something. Voted Hilda today.
Loving the Harriet Moment T-shirt and the Hilda iphone cover -- oh no, stumped again! But I shall go for Harriet. She was brave, brave, brave and did the only thing I suspect her faith would allow her to do. Oh, if only we were all so brave. And to those who are leaving out of exasperation ... please come back. Really. How can you stand not to see how this will all turn out after the madness you have suffered thus far?
I TOTALLY WANT THAT I-PHONE CASE!!!!!
Please forgive me for that utterly shallow moment, my momentary Lenten lapse. But it is way cool.....
I agreee, but first I have to get an iphone!
Living in Yorkshire I had to vote for Hilda of course - and perhaps I might make a mini pilgrimage to Whitby over Easter to visit the Abbey
Tough choice but I feel Hilda is doubly a fit candidate for this year's Golden Halo. First, she was baptized in the River York on Easter Sunday, April12, 627, along with her uncle King Edwin and the other members of his royal household.
Saint Wilfred aside, Hilda wisely acceded to the wisdom of "happy wife, happy life." Sexist, I know, but a likely extension of that was "happy king, happy abbess".
King Edwin's successor, King Oswiu -- a Celtic Christian, married Eanfled -- a Roman Christian. He quickly realized that his early merry-making and jelly bean imbibing was not sitting well while Queen Eanfled was still longing for a bite of a fruit & nut chocolate egg.
So Oswin called for the Council to debate which tradition would be followed. Wilfred drew the affirmative straw: "Resolved: Easter Should Be Observed According To The Roman Tradition." Hilda was left with the the oppositional task. (how those debate terms float back into memory). No matter what rebuttals Hilda offered, Queen Eanfeld -- that is Wilfred -- won the judgement.
I wonder if the stoned snakes suffered that fate before or after the Council? Could it have been a case of, "Don't get mad, get even?" I wonder how fond of snakes was the Queen?
Snakestones and James Bond and Iphone covers (I have a droid, sob...is there one for me?), plus The Rev. Mother Ruth,a small lady who somehow was always able to look down on everyone, continues to (shutter!) haunt me, a graduate of St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's School, NYC, so I must be all about Hilda, Hilda, Hilda! And folks, loosen up! In the midst of kitsch and laughter we continue to be moved by Harriet and Hilda and all those who have gone before to light our path. (What about St. Hugh for next year? Mother Ruth would be so happy!)
Joy, I used to live in an apartment house within shouting distance of St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's in Manhattan. Studying for my graduate classes at Columbia, I heard the joyful noise of its students at recess. What a coincidence!
Rev. Lucy,
So glad to hear that you found the "noise" to be joyful. We made quite a racket --- and had great fun doing it. The best years of my lives were spent at that school.
The CHS Sisters at St Hilda's House go for Hilda!
Ascension Hermitage & Sanctuary definitely with Hilda . . . not least of all our cat Hilda!
Ah, yes, a great description of Mother Ruth. She did tend to "tower" over everyone. As a former sister, I have to cast my vote for Hilda. I hope the students at St. Hilda's and St. Hugh's School will be alerted to vote when the time comes in the next round.
Diane,
Greetings, Sr. M.V. Hope you are well.
Here, here! Another H&H graduate here, and of course I voted for Herself, the Abbess of Whitby. Perhaps St Hugh stands a chance next year. Or will they have canonized a Ruth by then (shudder)?
I wouldn't have immediately thought so, but now that I see some of the people who have made it into Holy Women, Holy Men I believe there is hope for all of us!
I hope everyone connected with St. Hilda's & St. Hugh's will vote for Hilda on Monday.
Before we get any further into the madness of Lent Madness I should like to point out that today, which is the feast of Thomas Cranmer, Justin Welby is enthroned as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. So, the Romans have a new Pope and we have a new Archbishop. Congratulations to us all!
Tough round. I do know one thing, though: go Tubman Frogs!
(Normally I'd vote for the earlier-in-time individual; they seem to get lost in the shuffle sometimes and I like trying to imagine what their lives were like. But I admit a real fondness for Harriet Tubman, so I'm having some real trouble today. On the other hand, if I had an iPhone I'd surely want that Hilda case.
Pray for us, quarterfinalists....)
Dear SEC, it appears that both thumbnails for posting on Facebook are of kitsch from the same saint! I love them both, but I want to post the one for whom I voted!
Excuse me, there are three thumbnails, all for one saint! Not fair! Please correct, and I will re-post.
So this time I went with Hilda. Anyone who can run not one but two double monasteries--I like to think of them as co-ed--could probably figure out some way to keep some Celtic spirituality going covertly. (Would the smart-phone cover work with my reasonably-intelligent phone?)
Thanks SEC and bloggers for reminding us not to take ourselves so seriously! Lent Madness Rocks!
Barbara Pym went to St. Hilda's! So Hilda has my vote.
Anne, talk to Zuckerberg. We can't control which thumbnails Facebook picks up. Above our pay grade, evidently.
Being a parisioher of St. Bede's Episcopal Church in Atlanta, GA... I have to vote for Hilda because of their connection in that region of England.
PS. Suggest St. Bede be included in the 2014 brackets.
There was a later Harriet Tubman: Corrie Ten Boom, a devout Dutch Reformed. She ran a very successful underground railroad helping Jews escape Nazi occupied Holland. She consciously refused a resort to violence.
Hilda Hilda Hilda! I love her!! A seaside town in North Yorkshire, the Abbey, Vikings, Henry VIII, Count Dracula's castle, sailors and snakes. Who could ask for more? I want the iPhone case and pink Whitby t-shirt. Whatever will I do after Lent?
In addition to the model for Dracula's castle, we have the harbor of Whitby, which is where Dracula's ship put in with all hands on board dead! I won't speculate on what sort of guidance got the craft to the harbor ...
The patron saint of learning, culture and poetry!! My little heart is going pitter pat!!
Thank you commenters! This is a tough choice. I am voting for Harriet. Thank you Harlie for the Corrie Ten Boom connection. I had not thought of that & have long been a fan of hers.
If I had an I phone I sure would want that case though!
Where are all the voters today?! My students all wanted to vote for Harriet today, since they know more about her from history and social studies classes. So our vote goes to Harriet Tubman.
Harriet is absolutely amazing. I can only pray to have her courage and commitment to justice. But Hild is one of my own.
I do love the "kitch" round--one poster likened it to "dessert" in a meal. Good analogy. We've gotten the biographical "meat and potatoes" in earlier rounds. Time to lighten up a bit--one of God's greatest gifts is a good sense of humor. I couldn't decide who to vote for today--until I saw the Hilda iPhone case. Swayed by the kitch, it's Hilda for me--and the case is available for £24 on Zazzle.co.uk--it's one of quite a number of Whitby-related iPhone cases (there are some Whitby-related cases for Samsung and Motorola phones--not the Abbess, but Goth versions of the Abbey...)
Go Hilda.
Classy kitsch = oxymoron
😀
Heh. 😉
I agree...this was the toughest one yet. I had to go with Harriet, though, because she's of my century and still obviously a saint.
It makes my heart bleed not to vote for Hilda again. But Harriet survived and triumphed over the quadruple-whammy of being born into slavery, black AND female, as well as sustaining severe head trauma. Harriet it is.
Anne of Memphis and MizPickles, I love your lists. Add to them
Hilda's CROSIER, and She Who Must Be Obeyed 🙂 gets my vote too!
I can't get my VOTE key to bring up the site so will you earth angels put in one more for Hilda? Many thanks for your help! I hope in the days following Easter you will find a way to amuse and instruct us. Kudos to you!
This truly is madness! The kitsch round is shifting my shopaholic tendencies into overdrive - I'll be broke before this is over! That iPhone case is a must-have, but I'd go for Hilda in any case!
Been to Whitby, it is Hilda for me!
Me, too--gorgeous place, incredible woman! Hilda, Hilda, Hilda (but Harriet is amazing, too...)!
I was wondering why no one was saying anything about Justin Welby today. THEN I watched Maple Anglican's video. Very nice bit on our new Archbishop.
Had to go for Hilda because I thought she might be an underdog (but perhaps not) and because I LOVE the iPhone case. Suitable for gift giving too! Very classy kitsch.
I'm delighted to see St. Hild holding her own but this will create quite a dilemma when my two top picks, Hilda and Frances, have to face off in the Faithful Four. Such madness!
Hilda was a real pioneer in and for her day I feel. I use a celtic prayer book for my daily devotions and I wish she had carried the day in the council! Pax TNC