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Community Corner

2nd Annual Kirking of the Tartans at St. Andrews Presbyterian

Sunday, October 27, 2013, at the 11 a.m. service, St. Andrews celebrates the second annual Kirking of the Tartans.  The tradition started last year after the Highland Games at Stone Mountain and continues this year.  The pageantry of the Tartans and the sound of bagpipes and beautiful Scottish music by the choirs and bells spurred the church to make this an annual event.

Kirking comes from the Scottish word for church, and in this context means "blessing" the Tartans.  Tartans are the traditional Scottish plaids which represent the different clans.

Popular legend says the Kirking of the Tartans started after 1746 when the English government forbade anything Scottish and especially the Tartans of the clans. During the Sunday service Scottish Highlanders would touch the hidden piece of Tartan cloth under their clothes when the minister gave the benediction or kirkin’, thus rededicating themselves to God and their Scottish heritage.

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A more recent and better documented version of the story is that this began as a Scottish-American custom: The Kirkin’ o’ th’ Tartans service was created or “revived” during World War II by Reverend Peter Marshall, perhaps best known by the biographical book and film A Man Called Peter — who was originally from southwest Scotland and at one time pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.

Now, in present day celebration, the Highlander patriotism, faithfulness, and strong independence are remembered by the displaying of tartans and public parade of the clans to the sound of the bagpipe.

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Join St. Andrews as the church celebrate the Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian Church. Linger afterward in the courtyard for lemonade and shortbread made by the members of the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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