Clergy Tartan

[Mr. MacDougall]

Looking through various sites, I have noticed that there are a couple of variations on the "clergy" tartan, and I've been informed that this is a relatively rare example of a profession tartan. This leads me to wonder how specific it is -- do Catholic and Protestant clergy both wear the same tartans? What about heathen clergy?

[Howard Clark]

It's even worse than that. It is the same sett as Clark(e), and Clerk too, though for clergy the colors are usually different than for clan, I think.

So far the only ones I have seen wearing it are Presbyterian, and in the cornpatch, usually just a tartan tie.

[MacWage]

History of Clergy tartan:
Matt's Blog-
http://blog.albanach.org/2005/07/cle...tan.html#links
Matt's article-
http://albanach.org/clergy_tartan.htm

For a good pic of the Lachcarron modern coloring:
http://kilts.albanach.org/clergy1.jpg Front
http://kilts.albanach.org/clergy2.jpg Back
http://kilts.albanach.org/clergy3.jpg Side
From: http://kilts.albanach.org/pics.html

[Dirk Skene]

..... -- do Catholic and Protestant clergy both wear the same tartans? What about heathen clergy?

I would think that where a tartan in concerned the exact faith would not matter. We have several clergyman here. Catholic, Orthodox, several Protestant "flavors" and 1 or 2 other. Hopefully they will chime in & tell us.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Thanks to MacWage for posting links to my articles. I think they explain well why there are so many variations of the clergy tartan. Short answer is no, denomination does not matter. I've sold/made clergy tartan kilts for Catholic, Anglican, and Presbyterian clergy, and know others from various denominations that wear the tartan in a stole, or just a neck tie.

The reason the Clark family wears the same tartan is because of the origin of the name. The surname Clark derives from the occupation of "clerk." Both "clerk" and "clergy" come from the same Latin root.

Most mills today produce the "Clark" tartan with white lines and the "Clergy" tartan with grey lines in an attempt to distinguish the two, but this is a modern convention.

Ironically enough, there is actually a very old Clark family tartan which is completely unrelated to the Clergy tartan, that is not generally in production these days. It's tartan No. 4094 in the International Tartan Index, if anyone wants to look it up.

[Prester John]

Clergy wear the clergy tartan, clergy green, clergy muted, clergy ancient as they wish. Family members also.

Only Christian clergy traditionally wore it. I can't imagine non-Christian clergy even interested in it, but that's me.

Orthodox, Roman, and Protestant clergy all do so.

Clark is an olde word for clerk or clergyman, so their tartan is nearly identical, and often used, in place of the clergy tartan.

I think that's right....

[scoutniagara]

My brother is a United Church minister, and he'd wear the clergy tartan, if he had one. He wears the Clan MacIntosh and I wear the hunting MacIntosh.

[Riverkilt]

Thanks for the Clark Red link Matt. A great way for a man of Clark blood to honor his clan and not be mistaken for a man of the cloth.

Ron

[gilmore]

Looking through various sites, I have noticed that there are a couple of variations on the "clergy" tartan, and I've been informed that this is a relatively rare example of a profession tartan. This leads me to wonder how specific it is -- do Catholic and Protestant clergy both wear the same tartans? What about heathen clergy?

It is not only a rare example, it is the only the example of a professional or occupational tartan.

It is made in several color variations, including purple, green, blue, and black and white, in addition to the usual weathered, ancient and modern variations.

The only denominational tartans that I am aware of are one that was created for an Episcopal church's clergy, and two that were created within the last few months for Buddhists associated with Samye Ling, a monastery near Eskadelmuir in the borders. The latter is of red, green, blue, yellow and white---the colors ofthe Tibetan spectrum--- for lay people, as well as one of several shades of red that is intended to be worn as lining for the monks' and nuns' robes.

[Cavebear58]

Only Christian clergy traditionally wore it. I can't imagine non-Christian clergy even interested in it, but that's me.

Hmmm!? Not sure I go along with this.

Firstly, as tartan post-dates the Romans, there were only pre-Christian celts and Christians whose clergy could have worn the tartan 'traditionally'.

Secondly, I am an ordained interfaith minister and I have conducted wedding blessings in Scotland, England and France wearing a kilt - in my case it has been my own clan tartan (Gunn) simply because I haven't as yet saved enough pennies to buy a clergy one.

There was a picture in the news a few years ago of a Hindu religious woman from Scotland wearing a tartan sari.

Best wishes
Graham.