Plan to attend our Annual Kirkin O' the Tartans

Sunday, April 18, 2010
Worship Service at 10:45 a.m.

The Kirkin O' the Tartans

The Presbyterian Church was founded when it split from the oppressive Catholic rule in Scotland in the 1500's. "Kirk" is the Scottish word for church and the tartan is woolen material that has been woven with a distinct pattern of unevenly spaced stripes crossing at right angles. The traditional tartan patterns are used to distinguish the various Scottish Clans. The Kirkin O' the Tartans is the traditional blessing of the tartans.

Following the failure of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, the English imposed the Disarming Act of 1746 which included, among other provisions, a prohibition of the wearing of the traditional Scottish tartans. Although forbidden by law from wearing their tartans, legend has it that the Scots would hide swatches of tartan material in their clothing when they attended church and they would secretly touch the material at a predetermined time during the worship ceremony.

The Kirkin O' the Tartans is an opportunity for Scots and Presbyterians to celebrate their heritage and history. In addition to the Kirkin O' the Tartans.