Black Madonna and Child of Covid-19
© Kate Egawa and The Vicar and PCC of St Mary's Kilburn
© Photo by Kate Egawa
Upon entering the church of St Mary with All Souls Kilburn, you’ll notice a prominent bronze sculpture standing proudly. At first glance, you'll notice that 'Our Lady of Kilburn’ depicts a mother tenderly resting her head on a child in her arms. After closer inspection, you may notice that the mother is Mary reimagined as a Black Madonna - a proud symbol of Black womanhood, motherhood, care, and divinity.
The Black Madonna sculpture serves as a testament to the strength and resilience of the Global Majority Heritage (GMH) women in the congregation, who played a vital role during the pandemic. As the vicar Fr Robert Thompson explains, St Mary’s is a Black majority congregation, with many aware of the pronounced racial and gender disparities in how COVID-19 impacted different groups. Many of the Black and Brown women in the church community are employed in sectors such as health and social care or retail. Unlike others who were able to work remotely or were furloughed, these women continued to go to work, often putting themselves at risk. Their dedication ensured that the wider community could maintain a degree of normalcy, receiving essential care and support during a challenging time.
Birmingham-based sculptor Kate Egawa was commissioned for this piece of artwork. Finding inspiration in her own multicultural community of Handsworth, Egawa creates conversations through her work on wider political and educational issues. Around the same time in 2020, the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the release of Azariah France-Williams' book, Ghost Ship, which examined racism in the Church of England, further highlighted the grave evil of racism and its perversive and enduring legacy. It was the confluence of these pivotal events and the testimonies of St Mary’s own congregation that gave rise to the project.
This Black History Month, as at all times of year, we remember the resilience, strength, and indispensable contributions of Black women in their communities, especially in the face of adversity.
All are welcome to visit St Mary with All Souls Kilburn and see the Black Madonna and Child of COVID-19, known as ‘Our Lady of Kilburn’. Find out more here: https://parishnw6.com/
Rachel Weller, Communications Officer