Only in Lent Madness will you find a 19th century pioneering bishop squaring off against a 12th century monk. Which, you guessed it, is precisely what we have today as Henry Beard Delany faces Aelred of Rievaulx in the second matchup of Lent Madness 2017.
In yesterday's "Ash Thursday" kickoff, Stephen soundly defeated Alban, 62% to 38% in heavy voting. Indeed, with over 9,600 total votes cast a new Lent Madness turnout record was set! We also love that over 450 people added comments to the post. With his victory, Stephen became the first saint to advance to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen, where he'll face the winner of Henry Budd vs. Cecilia. Somewhere Bob Dylan is singing, "Everybody must get stoned."
Still wondering how to keep up with all the players saints? You need a Saintly Scorecard 2017! While the paper book has passed into the realm of collectors' items, the ebook is available. Pick one up for your Kindle or iPad today! For only $2.99 you'll have the inside track on all things Lent Madness!
Finally, in case you've ever been kept up at night wondering about the inner workings of the Supreme Executive Committee, you're in luck! Tim and Scott recently appeared on the popular Priest Pulse podcast. In addition to discussing all things Lent Madness, they even touch on the roots of their longstanding feud. Enjoy!
Henry Beard Delany
Born a slave into a Methodist household in Georgia, Henry Beard Delany was freed at the end of the Civil War. As a teenager, Delany moved to Florida with his family, where he learned bricklaying and carpentry. Delany received a scholarship from a local Episcopal parish to attend St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina—a college founded by Episcopal clergy to educate emancipated African-Americans.
Delany studied music and theology, joining the faculty after graduation and teaching building trades. Together, he and his students built the chapel, library, and hospital for the college. He attended an Episcopal church and was ordained a deacon in 1889 and priest in 1892. Upon his ordination, Delany became the vice-principal of the college. His wife Nanny Logan, also an alumna of St. Augustine’s, taught and served as matron at the college. They had ten children, including noted authors Sadie and Bessie Delany. During the later part of the nineteenth and early part of the twentieth century, the southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church were wrestling with the status of African-Americans within the church. While there were historic African-American congregations—like St. Ambrose where Delany was nurtured and ordained—they were routinely refused full parish status due to fears that a sizeable block of African-American delegates to diocesan conventions might upset the status quo.
Delany was part of the Commission for Work among Colored People, the leading association of African-American clergy and lay leaders in the Episcopal Church. In 1908, he was appointed as Archdeacon for Negro Work in the Diocese of North Carolina. When the church decided to maintain segregated missionary districts for African-Americans, Delany was unanimously elected by the diocesan convention as Suffragan Bishop for Negro Work. On November 21, 1918, he was consecrated bishop in the chapel at St. Augustine College—a house of worship he had designed and helped to build with his own hands. He worked tirelessly throughout the Carolinas, planting and nurturing African-American congregations until his death on April 14, 1928.
Collect for Henry Beard Delany
Almighty God who frees your people with a mighty hand and outstretched arm: Grant strength to all your servants who, inspired by the example and prayers of Henry Beard Delany, hold fast, bearing witness to the truth of your love and justice in the face of oppression; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Aelred of Rievaulx
Aelred of Rievaulx was born in northern England in 1110. Thanks to a biography written shortly after his death, much is known about his life and travels.
After spending several years at the court of King David I of Scotland, Aelred entered the Cistercian abbey of Rievaulx, in Yorkshire, at the age of 24. In 1147, Aelred was elected abbot and led the abbey through a period of growth and expansion, growing the abbey to about 140 monks and 500 laymen.
A prolific writer who authored several volumes on spirituality, Aelred is also remembered as a tireless traveler and political negotiator. In addition to visiting the abbey’s five daughter-houses in England and Scotland, he also traveled annually to the general chapter of the Cistercians at Cîteaux (France). In 1138, he traveled to the Scottish border to help negotiate the transfer of a castle to King David of Scotland. Four years later, he traveled to Rome for an audience with Pope Innocent II as part of a group who opposed the election of William, King Stephen’s nephew, as Archbishop of York.
Aelred’s writings include histories and biographies, spiritual treatises, and sermons. For his talents as both an author and a church manager, Aelred has been called the “St. Bernard of the North” (in reference to Bernard of Clairvaux, a French Cistercian abbot). Although never formally canonized, he has been venerated as a saint since the 1400s. His feast is marked in the calendars of various churches on January 12, the traditional date of his death.
After reading his correspondence and a biography by a fellow monk, author John Boswell and a few other scholars have suggested that Aelred may have been gay. Because of this conjecture, and inspired by Aelred’s writings on friendship, Integrity U.S.A. and some other LGBT organizations have adopted Aelred as their patron saint, as well.
Collect for Aelred of Rievaulx
Almighty God, you endowed the abbot Aelred with the gift of Christian friendship and the wisdom to lead others in the way of holiness: Grant to your people that same spirit of mutual affection, that, in loving one another, we may know the love of Christ and rejoice in the gift of your eternal goodness; through the same Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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338 comments on “Henry Beard Delany vs. Aelred of Rievaulx”
Had to vote for another person born in Georgia and raised Methodist!
I collect antiquarian books. I found Bishop Delany's personal copy of the Book of Common Prayer while book hunting. I bought it and donated it to the archives of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. That seemed only right. Of course, I had to vote for this saint who served the people of color in the NC diocese with such faith and in such difficult times. Jim Crow was ugly, but faith was greater.
Anyone who could help raise that many kids has to be a saint
I voted for Henry Delany. He was a prime example of blooming where he was planted. The church at large flourished for his perseverance. A man attuned to God and to his fellow man. Go Henry!
I chose Bp Delaney not just for his inspiring story, but for also raising 10(!) children! That must be some kind of record.
Greetings from Australia.
I enjoy it when there's a difficult choice like this. Had an personal interest in both of their historical contexts. Often leaned to either the social justice advocates like Bp. Delany or the scholars like Aelred.
Visited Rievaulx on my most recent visit to the UK.
Enjoyed the piratical and Pythonesque side issues.
Voted for Bp. Delany.
Great to be back and find Oliver here!
Henry Beard Delaney was appealing to me. I was born in Florida, went to college in
Georgia and love North Carolina. Seemed destined to vote for Henry, which is also my grandson's name.
How could I not vote for Aelred; his feast day is my birthday!
Interesting comments. I voted for Delaney because his story spoke to my soul.
Are we supposed to vote for the saint we like better or the saint we think more people will vote for?
HBD is my choice today. Raleigh, N C has elected bishops who excel in living the Gospel. I am waiting prayerfully for the next follower of Jesus.
I knew who I was supposed to vote for before I even started reading Aelred's bio. Bishop Henry built up God's church both literally and figuratively whilst fighting oppression and helping his saintly wife with the raising of 10 children, and for that he gets my vote.
We need more people like the good Bishop now in our own time who persist against injustice.
Hi all voted for Aelred I spend time with the trappists in Ky every year, the best days of the year 4 days in complete silence surrounded by books. I didn't know the LGBTQ had a patron saint simply wonderful
I will certainly tell my special friends and relatives
Got to go with Aelred. It was really harsh to travel back then so respect.
Also love a medieval saint.
"In my mind, I'm goin' to Carolina" (JamesTaylor). My mother, Alice Cheek Sanders Marvin, and grandmother, Alice Mutter Cheek Sanders Edwards, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina. I graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1977. Henry Beard Delaney has my admiration and vote!
This was a tough choice. I really liked both of these Saints.
I voted for Henry Beard Delaney also. First from having read and loved Having My Say by his delightful daughters years ago. But also because I learned later that my great great grandfather was one of the founders of St. Augustine's. It was founded not only by 6 members of the Episcopal clergy but also by 6 lay members, John Wilkes among them. (St. Aug's invited me to one of their Founders Day celebrations, where we learned of the good work they are doing there to this day.) Bit of trivia.... John Wilkes has a connection with not only St. Aug's and Henry Beard Delaney, but his grandfather (with the same name) was one of Elizabeth Ann Seton's benefactors after her husband died. So Henry Beard Delaney has something less than six degrees of separation from Mother Seton... how many of our "contestants" can make a similar claim to one another?
My name is Zoey and I am six years old. I like Henry Beard Delany because my cousins name is Delaney!
(Mum is typing for her)
Hi Zoey!
Welcome to Lent Madness.
Great to hear from another "under 10." Their words of wisdom are as deep as many a theologian. Stick with us, Zoey
I think it's important to say that Henry Delaney wasn't "born a slave." He was born a person. He was also enslaved. A recent reflection by Byron Rushing (the Episcopal Church's VP for the House of Deputies and lay leader of many years) on Absalom Jones made this point more eloquently than I can. How we phrase such things matters.
There is a Rievaulx Stadium in Billingham, but no team of any stature plays there.
I voted for Henry Delany. I'm a member of St. Ambrose Church in Raleigh. Awesome man of God. I have the privilege of worshipping with his descendants. Ahoy, Oliver!!
Good choice Oliver! I voted for Delany too but not because of his name but because he did amazing things & worked hard for his people too!
Bekka 10yo
Having your say us now on my must read list! What a piece of American history to learn.
This such a wonderful learning experience!!
I have been to the ruined Abbey of Rievaulx in Yorkshire and it is mystical, so I had no choice but to vote for Aelred.
I have so many sustaining spiritual friendships that I had to vote for the underdog.
I look forward to Delany moving on. Voted for Aelred out of Christian friendship and support of the patron saint of the LGBTQ+ community.
Like all the rest of us "He might have been gay
I voted for Delany partly because he must of had to overcome so many difficulties due to racial intolerance, and at the same time maintain compassion and love in his heart, just as the Lord would have done; and also because his daughters were writers...I love reading and am a writer myself!