First Time Kilted at Church

[jfellrath]

My wife and son and I were visiting my inlaws in Bremerton, WA over the past week (we just got back yesterday) and I was kilted ALMOST the entire time, swapping between my khaki UK original and my Kiltstore casual Clark Ancient. The exception was when I was helping my father-in-law put in a boat he'd built for the first time, and I wore shorts since I didn't want to sink in a kilt and ruin it (it didn't sink, but better safe than sorry).

My mother-in-law really likes the kilt thing - she's gotten me a pair of kilt hose and says she's looking for a pair of Argyle ones for me, while my father-in-law thinks I'm a bit nuts (though he admires me wearing what I like and damn the consequences, I think).

For the most part, reception was about what I'd experienced in my home in Ohio, mostly ignoring me... a few folks said nice kilt or asked me about it a bit.

BUT... If you ever feel a desire to be roundly admired and set upon by the locals for your kilt-wearing, go to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bremerton, WA. During the kiss of peace (I use a lot of Catholic terms since I was raised Catholic but go to Episcopal services with my wife) several people came over to say hello and to comment on the kilt. One lady even told me that she loved the kilt since she was Scottish, but that the Ellis Island folks had misspelled their family name "Laird" as "Leird." A couple of the lay ministers came over, too, one admiring the kilt and the other saying "Welcome to St. Paul's, laddie!"

The best reaction, though, was from the pastor. This is a guy who wears Birkenstocks under his robes, and he came over at that point and smiles and says "DUDE! Nice kilt!"

So, my first kilted religious experience (ACTUALLY religious, that is... not just metaphorically) was definitely a positive one. And this was at the early morning gray-hair service, too. Can't imagine how it might have been at the high service with younger folks there.

[jkdesq]

Pastor? You're sounding more evangelical than Catholic. Our episcopal equivalent (Anglican Church of Canada) uses the term "rector". In England, I believe they use vicar. Could the American church use "pastor"?

Anyway, the main point of my posting: the last straw in my decision to buy a kilt was an article in the local paper about kilt wearing. The article talked about kilts generally, but then ended off as a promotion for an organzied "Kirking of the Tartans" at the Anglican Cathedral. I ordered the kilt in March or April, so believe the Kirking was planned to coincided with the anniversary of the Treaty of Arbroath (Tartan Day). I couldn't wear it to that Kirking, as it was on order. I have never seen any information of further planned Kirkings.

My questions to anyone who may know are: i) what is the tradition of the Kirking of the Tartan? ii) when does it usually happen? and iii) if there are organized events somewhere for it? Seems like an event that could ease one into wearing a kilt on Sundays.

[macwilkin]

Pastor? You're sounding more evangelical than Catholic. Our episcopal equivalent (Anglican Church of Canada) uses the term "rector". In England, I believe they use vicar. Could the American church use "pastor"?

Anyway, the main point of my posting: the last straw in my decision to buy a kilt was an article in the local paper about kilt wearing. The article talked about kilts generally, but then ended off as a promotion for an organzied "Kirking of the Tartans" at the Anglican Cathedral. I ordered the kilt in March or April, so believe the Kirking was planned to coincided with the anniversary of the Treaty of Arbroath (Tartan Day). I couldn't wear it to that Kirking, as it was on order. I have never seen any information of further planned Kirkings.

My questions to anyone who may know are: i) what is the tradition of the Kirking of the Tartan? ii) when does it usually happen? and iii) if there are organized events somewhere for it? Seems like an event that could ease one into wearing a kilt on Sundays.

Depends on the individual Episcopal parish. In an Anglo-Catholic "Nosebleed High" parish like mine, we use "priest", "rector", "father" or in my case, "padre", borrowing from the British Army's term for a chaplain. :mrgreen:

As far as Kirkin' information, here is what I wrote not too long ago in another thread:

In a nutshell, the Kirkin' Service started during the Second World War. Most accounts say that the Rev. Peter Marshall, the pastor of the New York Ave. Presbyterian Church in Washington DC, was the originator of the service -- Rev. Marshall was a immigrant from Coatbridge, Scotland and used the Kirkin' Service as a way to raise funds for British war relief during the War. Some accounts say the first service was held in 1941 or 1943. Rev. Marshall later cooperated with the St. Andrew's Society of Washington and the Kirkin' service was moved to the National Cathederal. A movie was made about Rev. Marshall's life, titled "A Man Called Peter", starring Richard Todd. I have seen a picture of Rev. Marshall in a kilt, btw, at a Burns Night in Atlanta.

The Kirkin' is a Scottish-American innovation, and is relatively unknown in Scotland. There seems to be a legend in the Scottish-American community that the Kirkin' service originated after the Jacobite Rebellion and the Act of Proscription, when Highlanders would hide bits of their tartan and bring them to church to be blessed, however, there is no documentation for this story, at least that I can find. Besides, the original story is just as moving, for me anyway.

Kirkins usually take place around Tartan Day (April 6), St. Andrew's Day (November 30) or in the case of Presbyertian Churches, Reformation Sunday (closest to October 30), although the service could be held at any time of the year: June, for St. Columba's Day, for example.

Cheers,

Todd

[arrogcow]

Depends on the individual Episcopal parish. In an Anglo-Catholic "Nosebleed High" parish like mine, we use "priest", "rector", "father" or in my case, "padre", borrowing from the British Army's term for a chaplain. :mrgreen:

Some of it is regional as well. My dad is a Baptist minister, and most places people used Reverend, but in PA he was always Pastor Bill.

Adam

[Mr. Kilt]

Pastor? You're sounding more evangelical than Catholic. Our episcopal equivalent (Anglican Church of Canada) uses the term "rector". In England, I believe they use vicar. Could the American church use "pastor"?

Anyway, the main point of my posting: the last straw in my decision to buy a kilt was an article in the local paper about kilt wearing. The article talked about kilts generally, but then ended off as a promotion for an organzied "Kirking of the Tartans" at the Anglican Cathedral. I ordered the kilt in March or April, so believe the Kirking was planned to coincided with the anniversary of the Treaty of Arbroath (Tartan Day). I couldn't wear it to that Kirking, as it was on order. I have never seen any information of further planned Kirkings.

My questions to anyone who may know are: i) what is the tradition of the Kirking of the Tartan? ii) when does it usually happen? and iii) if there are organized events somewhere for it? Seems like an event that could ease one into wearing a kilt on Sundays.

There's a local "Kirking of the tartans"?? Please tell me more. I must have missed the article you read in the paper, as this is the first I've heard of it.

As for organised "kilt" type events around Calgary, the Highland Games were on this past Saturday which made for a great excuse to be out and about in a kilt. I tend to wear mine around town just for the hell of it, preferring my kilts to pants. There are a number of Calgary fellows who may be interested in getting a monthly kilt night going. I would be trying to set up something myself except that I drive for Calgary Transit and as such have really horrid hours, thus preventing me from being able to organise anything.

Feel free to pm me if you'd like to chat more about the local kilting scene.

[Cawdorian]

I am aware of two Kirk'in services here in my area, one in my own Presbyterian Church in late November and another service at another Presbyterian Church held in February.

National Tartan Day coincides with the Treaty of Arbroath, there is a Kirk'in service held in a New York City Presbyterian Church in conjuction with Tartan Day.

I don't think there is any pattern to the date of the services. I know one thing I will wear my kilt and all of the kit that goes with it to our service.

Jim

[Prester John]

I've discussed having a "kirkin'" at our parish in Canton, Ohio.

It actually would work pretty well, and I even have several "scot" descendant parishioners, so we may actually give it a go.

St. Andrew's Day is the only appropriate choice for us, although with all the cross hatching of a tartan, Holy Cross Day (Sept 14) would be appropriate also.

Incidentally, for those who don't know, I'm an Orthodox priest, so it could well be the first Orthodox kirkin' of the tartan ever!

[Cawdorian]

John,

I am glad you recognize the Kirk'in is not just a Presbyterian thing, the purpose of the service is honor our ancestors and our Scottish heritage. It is a very reverent and inspiring service.

You are located in Ohio, some members of your congregation are no doubt of Scots-Irish descent, many settled in your part of the country. For information on the "Other Irish", Google "Ulster Scots" or "Other Irish". This story is very interesting.

I am still trying to get a copy of the Order of Worship and some other information for you.

Jim

[jfellrath]

Pastor? You're sounding more evangelical than Catholic. Our episcopal equivalent (Anglican Church of Canada) uses the term "rector". In England, I believe they use vicar. Could the American church use "pastor"?

jkdesq - Actually, we've always called the head resident priest of a church "pastor" in the Catholic churches to which I've been. I heard "rector" when I was at Notre Dame as a name for the priest or brother who was in charge of a residence hall. Vicar, as far as I know, is only used in romance novels. ;)

I honestly don't know what the Episcopal Church calls "pastors" - that's not a subject my wife and I have broached yet.

Graham - thanks for the comments. I was gratified and a bit surprised at the reception I got, too, but it was definitely nice!

[Prester John]

Just FYI

The traditional usages of ecclesiastical terms (this is from me, not a dictionary)

Rector - priest in charge of a parish
Vicar - someone, usually a priest, representing the person in charge (usually the bishop - especially for parishes where the priest is not permanent)

Father - a spiritual father of someone (as St. Paul refers to himself in the NT) Not always ordained, some monks are called father by their spiritual children, esp. in the Orthodox tradition.

Pastor - a clergyman with pastoral oversight of a parish. Not equal in responsibility to rector, but a "minister" without a parish is not a pastor (i.e. the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev Al Sharpton, the Rev. Jesse Duplantis, etc. - not a slam, just the fact)

Reverend - an adjective, as in "The Reverend Mr. soandso" Saying "Rev. Bill" is a borrowing of title from the adjective, not grammatically correct, but a tradition in Methodist Churches, among others.

Minister - anyone who ministers to others.

There are others, I'm sure I don't know all the new ones.

If I have offended, it was not intentional, and if this post has to be removed, I apologize.