Goin' to a Kirkin'

[MacLowlife]

A kirkin is a completely fabricated confection of Scottish American pride and celebration and, as such, is indeed a very special occasion, where no amount of "bling" is too much. Like an academic procession, it is not meant to be accurate, just colorful and impressive.

Here is a slightly more detailed explanation, from the Montreat Scottish Society's webpage:


History of the Kirkin' o' the Tartan Service

Note: We contacted the historian of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church to research the origins of the Kirkin' service in America. We also researched contemporaneous sources. While there are many versions on the internet, we believe this brief outline to be accurate.

Worshippers gathered over 65 years ago on Sunday evening, April 27, 1941, in Washington, D.C., at a special service led by Peter Marshall, famed pastor (1935 - 1949) of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Rev. Marshall later also served as Chaplain to the United States Senate (1947 - 1949). Attended by members of the St. Andrews Society of Washington, D.C., the 1941 service had Scottish airs as a prelude to the service.
Designed to raise funds, this Kirkin’ service sought to aid Scottish churches during the early days of World War II, as well as the British war effort, by providing a mobile kitchen, according to the church bulletin. This initial, simple Kirkin’ service later evolved into what is today the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan held in many locations across America. Since 1954, an annual Kirkin’ o' the Tartan has been held at the National Cathedral in the nation’s capital.
A remembrance of early Scottish Presbyterianism, Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan worship services have spread across America. Our first Kirkin’ was held in Montreat in April 1982. The next year, the Montreat Kirkin' service was moved to the Sunday of Memorial Weekend. We will hold our 26th annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan on May 27, 2007, in Montreat.

Scotland in the mid-18th century saw the English parliament and monarchy (The Disarming Act, 1746 - 1782) banning weapons, as well as the wearing of tartan or kilts by Highland clansmen (effective August 1747). A latter-day legend has it that clansmen would carry small pieces of the banned tartan cloth to the Church (Kirk) and the clergymen would slip a blessing into the service.
The Holy Scriptures were the responsibility of The Beadle, a lay person in the Scottish Kirk. The Beadle brought the Bible into the Kirk for the worship service.
In early history, clans were simply a gathering of peoples for their protection and for economic, political and social support. They were not necessarily related by blood.
Specific tartans developed simply because each area liked to weave a certain design using local herb dyes.
Why then do we celebrate clans and tartans? It is because the clansmen
demonstrated true brotherhood and the clan was the family. The tartan is a symbol of this love and togetherness.
In our Kirkin’ service, we remember ancient times, as well as past and present kith and kin, while asking God’s help and blessings in the future.





In my experience, the kirkin is a highly popular service with members of the congregation and maybe a little less so with members of the clergy, who might object to the lack of "inclusivity" or might object to its lack of historical precedence, or might just sit wrong with them. But the folks in the pews just like the pipes and all of the banners.

Rev. Peter Marshall died young, but his wife carried on his good works and wrote a book about his life: A MAN CALLED PETER. I do hope that XMarks members from the UK will excuse the exuberance of Americans on this point. I have not yet visited a Ren Fair, but I expect there may be some similar indulgence and willing suspension of disbelief involved.

[Peter Crowe]

A remembrance of early Scottish Presbyterianism, Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan worship services have spread across America. Our first Kirkin’ was held in Montreat in April 1982. The next year, the Montreat Kirkin' service was moved to the Sunday of Memorial Weekend. We will hold our 26th annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan on May 27, 2007, in Montreat.

Scotland in the mid-18th century saw the English parliament and monarchy (The Disarming Act, 1746 - 1782) banning weapons, as well as the wearing of tartan or kilts by Highland clansmen (effective August 1747). A latter-day legend has it that clansmen would carry small pieces of the banned tartan cloth to the Church (Kirk) and the clergymen would slip a blessing into the service.
The Holy Scriptures were the responsibility of The Beadle, a lay person in the Scottish Kirk. The Beadle brought the Bible into the Kirk for the worship service.
In early history, clans were simply a gathering of peoples for their protection and for economic, political and social support. They were not necessarily related by blood.
Specific tartans developed simply because each area liked to weave a certain design using local herb dyes.
Why then do we celebrate clans and tartans? It is because the clansmen
demonstrated true brotherhood and the clan was the family. The tartan is a symbol of this love and togetherness.
In our Kirkin’ service, we remember ancient times, as well as past and present kith and kin, while asking God’s help and blessings in the future.

Sorry to be pedantic, but...

The information about the Rev. Peter Marshall who was originally from Coatbridge about 5 miles from my home town of Uddingston is fine but the rest of what these Montreat Caledonian Society people say is romantic nonsense 'Brigadoonerie' which as a bone fide Scottish Historian I feel a moral obligation to debunk.

A) The Hanoverians were not English monarchs and neither was the Parliament at Westminster which met from 1707. The House of Hanover were originally German and indirectly descended from James VI and I's (House of Stuart) granddaughter, Sophia. They were therefore more Scots by heritage than English. George I came to the throne in 1714, so the House of Hanover were always legally and constitutionally British monarchs.

B) Presbyterians were as a religious body whether Church of Scotland, or Erskinite seceeders opposed to Jacobitism.

[macwilkin]

Sorry to be pedantic, but...

The information about the Rev. Peter Marshall who was originally from Coatbridge about 5 miles from my home town of Uddingston is fine but the rest of what these Montreat Caledonian Society people say is romantic nonsense 'Brigadoonerie' which as a bone fide Scottish Historian I feel a moral obligation to debunk.

A) The Hanoverians were not English monarchs and neither was the Parliament at Westminster which met from 1707. The House of Hanover were originally German and indirectly descended from James VI and I's (House of Stuart) granddaughter, Sophia. They were therefore more Scots by heritage than English. George I came to the throne in 1714, so the House of Hanover were always legally and constitutionally British monarchs.

B) Presbyterians were as a religious body whether Church of Scotland, or Erskinite seceeders opposed to Jacobitism.

Well said, Peter. Contrary to the myth that many diaspora organizations present here in North America and in other parts of the world, the Kirkin' service is a "Scottish-American" church parade that Rev. Marshall started during WWII to raise funds for war relief, specifically the relocation of urban children to the Highlands during the Blitz. It is similar to a regimental church parade for some societies. I have been researching the Kirkin' service for over a decade now, and the majority of sources, primary and secondary, seem to confirm Marshall as the originator of the service.

T.

[True Blue]

Interesting! I had never heard of this, so I tried to look it up. My first try I added a g to the end of Kirkin' by mistake and wound up with this:

1. Kirking
To have several relationships with hot women in short periods of time with no attatchment whatsoever.

Derived from Captain James T. Kirk of Star Trek TOS.


2. Kirking
(verb) A term for all the times in a sci-fi show and/or movie that a character has sex with an alien. A reference to Captian Kirk from Star Trek, often used in a phrase such as "Kirking it up"

[Grae]

Deledted

[MacBean]

I am puzzled how to pronounce "kirking" (I suspect there are local variations)? In Scandinavia, chuches are pronounced k-ear-kuh.

[ThistleDown]

I am puzzled how to pronounce "kirking" (I suspect there are local variations)? In Scandinavia, chuches are pronounced k-ear-kuh.

Mark, in Scotland it is pronounced just as the Captain pronounced it (and no doubt it's a "trade" name originally connected to the physical structure of the church). It is thought that it originated with the Angles, so it is possible, I suppose that it also ended up in Scandinavia.

There is no tradition of "kirkin the tartan" in the Free Church in Glasgow or anywhere else in Scotland, Grae. That story has made the rounds for years but has no foundation in fact. The Rev Peter Marshall of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington was born in Scotland; maybe that's where the tale originated.

In the north east there was a tradition of "kirkin" a newly-married couple; that is, conducting tnem to the kirk on the first Sunday after they were married. I doubt that tradition still exists. And "kirking" is still the common term for going off to church of a Sunday.

Although what you are wearing would not be considered "kirk-claes" in Scotland, WolfmanJack, you do cut a fine figure in what you are wearing.

[macwilkin]

Without doubt North Americans have raised the Kirkin of the Tartan service to the prominance it now enjoys. However I have been informed that a minister originally from Glasgow recalled that a similar Kirking service was held by the Free Kirk in Scotland before WW1 although not in the Church of Scotland. Services like fashion evolve and this is a service I always attend and enjoy.

Do you have a source, or a way to contact this particular dominie?

T.