...something completely different

[tree_and_leaf]

Today the Anglican Communion commemorates that extrordinarily tough bishop, S. Wilfred. I've always felt a great deal of affection for Wilfred, partly because of childhood visits to Ripon, but, I'm afraid, chiefly because of his appearance in Kipling's Rewards and Fairies, a splendid book. In honour of this, I thought I'd post the poem about 'Eddi, the priest of Wilfred' (really Wilf's biographer, Eddi Stephanus) which charmed me as a child.



EDDI, priest of St. Wilfrid
In his chapel at Manhood End,
Ordered a midnight service
For such as cared to attend.
But the Saxons were keeping Christmas,
And the night was stormy as well.
Nobody came to service,
Though Eddi rang the bell.

“Wicked weather for walking,”
Said Eddi of Manhood End.
“But I must go on with the service
For such as care to attend.”

The altar-lamps were lighted,—
An old marsh-donkey came,
Bold as a guest invited,
And stared at the guttering flame.

The storm beat on at the windows,
The water splashed on the floor,
And a wet, yoke-weary bullock
Pushed in through the open door.

“How do I know what is greatest,
How do I know what is least?
That is My Father’s business,”
Said Eddi, Wilfrid’s priest.

“But—three are gathered together—
Listen to me and attend.
I bring good news, my brethren!”
Said Eddi of Manhood End.

And he told the Ox of a Manger
And a Stall in Bethlehem,
And he spoke to the Ass of a Rider,
That rode to Jerusalem.

They steamed and dripped in the chancel,
They listened and never stirred,
While, just as though they were Bishops,
Eddi preached them The Word,

Till the gale blew off on the marshes
And the windows showed the day,
And the Ox and the Ass together
Wheeled and clattered away.

And when the Saxons mocked him,
Said Eddi of Manhood End,
“I dare not shut His chapel
On such as care to attend.”

Comments

[sacred-sarcasm.livejournal.com]

That's a beautiful poem - and a timely reminder for the Anglican Communion too, if I may say so. 'I dare not shut His chapel/ On such as care to attend' indeed.

I have a query, though - is there such a place as Manhood End and what is the etymology of such a placename?!

[sacred-sarcasm.livejournal.com]

Oh, and another thought that has just occurred to me (can you tell I'm procrastinating before going back to work?) - why do ACs usually use S. as the abbreviation for Saint, rather than St.? S. is so much more pleasing to the eye (in my oh-so humble opinion) but do you happen to know which is older?

off to google for me!

SSx

[tree_and_leaf]

"Manhood', at least, is real: it's an hundred in Sussex, and where Kipling has Wilfred and Eddi ministering to the heathen Saxons in the story accompanying the poem. I'm afraid I don't know the etymology, though.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=41742

And yes, there are a lot of people - in all churches, come to that - who could do to take the poem to heart.

[tree_and_leaf]

And, as I meant to say, Wilfred really did have a lordship there, as the article I linked to notes.

S. is one of the mediaeval abbreviations for 'Sancta' (Scâ was also used), and it's used in post-reformation Catholic Latin too. I'm not sure when St arose. But predictably, it's really the A-Cs being More-Archaic-Than-Thou... I agree that it looks nicer, though. Mind you - as I've noted - the one I really find tiresome is Sts. for 'Saints'. I absolutely refuse to use that.

[grondfic.livejournal.com]

Nice to see some Kipling amongst my F-listings. A great craftsman and speaker of truth as he saw it ... even if his views on Empire were a bit dodgy. (My Kipling/Tanith Lee crossover, featuring an adult Mowgli can be found amonst my Pastiche-slash here - http://etave.members.gn.apc.org/newface/grondfic/man.htm )

[tree_and_leaf]

I am very fond of Kipling, despite 'the white man's burden' (though I wish the US would read that, as it might have put them off their imperial adventures...) Am now kicking myself trying to remember which Indian writer it was that said, much as it pained him to admit it, that Kipling was the only European writer who ever 'got' India. He was a fine and honest writer - and whatever you think of his politics, I think Auden's take on him in the elegy for Yeats is quite right.

Thanks for the fic link. I shall have a look when I'm less sleepy!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

Is "Rewards and Fairies" the one in which the Vikings/Picts/Ethnic British tribe of choice are freemasons?

[tree_and_leaf]

...not exactly. The masons come into it, though not in a big way, but there is a theme about the dignity and importance of labour, and doing your job as well as you can. It's a good book.