First Time Kilted at Church

[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