Kirkin' o' the Tartan & 1789 Holy Communion

10:30 a.m. Holy Communion 1789 &  "Kirkin' o' the Tartan"

1789 Book of Common Prayer

Bagpipes & Organ, Pohick Choir

Music includes:

The Highland Cathedral

King of glory, King of peace - Gerald Near

Article:

Kirikin O' the Tartan

Pohick Church will be celebrating the Feast of Christ the King and the Feast of St. Andrew during our 10:30 am service on November 22nd with a special Kirkin O’ The Tartan service. Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and the Kirkin O’ The Tartan (or Churching of the Tartan) is a Scottish-American custom which celebrates Scottish heritage and the contributions of Scotland to the United States. The roots of this custom date back to the 1746 Act of Proscription which forbade the wearing of kilts in the Scottish Highlands. According to legend, the Highlanders would secretly bring pieces of their family tartan to the church to be blessed by the priest.

The custom as we know it today, was begun in 1941 by the Rev. Peter Marshall, a member of the Society of St. Andrew, and served as a fundraiser for British war relief during the Second World War. Since 1952, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. has hosted the nation’s largest Kirkin O’ The Tartan service. During a typical Kirkin O’ the Tartan, tartans from various Scottish clans and regions are processed into the church and blessed by the clergy.

The Episcopal Church’s connection to Scotland is one of great importance. In the aftermath of the American Revolution, the Church of England declined to consecrate American bishops. Having no bishops to oversee the newly formed Protestant Episcopal Church, the Scottish Episcopal Church stepped in. On November 14, 1784, Robert Kilgour, the Bishop of Aberdeen and Primus of Scotland consecrated the Rev. Samuel Seabury as the first American bishop. Because of this Scottish connection, the 1789 Book of Common Prayer, (the first American Prayer Book,) was modeled after the Scottish Episcopal liturgy. Due to these influences, the St. Andrew’s Cross which adorns the Scottish Flag, is incorporated in the upper left-hand corner of the Episcopal Church’s flag and shield.

In keeping with this rich heritage, and to commemorate the Episcopal Church’s historic connection to the Scottish Episcopal Church, parishioners and members of the community are invited to join in the procession and blessing of the tartans on November 22th. Kilts, banners, skirts, sashes, and other traditional Scottish attire are encouraged. Our service will be taken from the Scottish-influenced 1789 Book of Common Prayer and will include reflections on the historic faith connections between Scottland and the United States.

To further commemorate the Feast of St. Andrew, members of our Brotherhood of St. Andrew chapter will assist in officiating the liturgy and the newly elected leadership will be formally installed. The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is the oldest men’s ministry in the Episcopal Church, and its mission is to bring youth and men to Christ through the threefold disciplines of prayer, study, and service.

Following the service there will be additional remarks and a reception in the Parish Hall. To participate in the procession and to order a tartan banner please contact the church office. For a list of tartan options or to order additional Scottish attire, please visit Atlanta Kilts at atlantakilts.com. Tartan options include traditional clan tartans, tartans for U.S. military branches, and tartans representing various geographic regions. Please note that processional banners must be ordered through the church office.

Blessings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Rev. Daniel