Bagipes Banned from Edinburgh Wedding !

[McClef]

tpa - offense may not have been meant but the joke (if it was) is factually incorrect.

The Church of England has no congregations in Scotland - the Anglican representative there is the Scottish Episcopal Church.

I am not sure that the church concerned can be forced to change their policy though publicity may embarrass them possibly. Churches may have various prohibitions about what is allowed at weddings - a popular one is banning the throwing of confetti.

[seanachie]

it is better to ask for forgiveness than it is for permission. I had a piper lead my wife and I out at the recessional for our wedding,,,,he played Loud and Proud. Just to avoid any complications I never said a word to anyone in advance.

[chrisupyonder]

Kilt police in Scotland next!!!!!!!!

Pathetic!

Chris.

[2a5t2f7]

Last year, my father-in-law passed away in Birmingham, Al. They were long time, faithful members of the Episcopal Church. When we were planning the funeral service the minister said the church had a prohibition against bagpipes inside the church for the funeral service. He stated that their affiliation with The Anglican Communion (The Church of England) still led them to view the bagpipes as an implement of war. They did consent to allow the piper to stand on the sidewalk in front of the church with the doors open so the attendees could hear the pipes.

[English Bloke]

... the church had a prohibition against bagpipes inside the church ... their affiliation with The Anglican Communion (The Church of England) still led them to view the bagpipes as an implement of war....

Condolences for you Father in Law.

That sounds like an excuse for a preference to me. Either that or he is misinformed. I've seen bagpipes played in English Churches (CofE).

[McClef]

I can find nothing in rubrics or policy of the Scottish Episcopal Church that bans bagpipes as a matter of policy.

Nor have I found anything for the Church of England.

Nor for the American Episcopal Church.

As English Bloke says "it's nobbut an excuse."

[2a5t2f7]

Sounded like a personal preference "reason" to me as well..... However, I was not in a position to argue with the inlaw's pastor at such a difficult time. In reality, the "outside" playing had an even more ethereal effect than they would have had in the cathedral.......

My experience in the local Episcopal Diocese where I live has also not been the same. One local church even has a Kirkin O'the Tartan service complete with Highland Cathedral played by The Citadel Pipe Band.

[English Bloke]

Sounded like a personal preference "reason" to me as well..... However, I was not in a position to argue with the inlaw's pastor at such a difficult time. In reality, the "outside" playing had an even more ethereal effect than they would have had in the cathedral.......

My experience in the local Episcopal Diocese where I live has also not been the same. One local church even has a Kirkin O'the Tartan service complete with Highland Cathedral played by The Citadel Pipe Band.

I understand you wouldn't wish to argue with the gentleman. I'll bet that Kirkin' is a sound to behold though. You'll have to grab some pictures next time.

[Chas]

A couple of thoughts come to mind.

Noise pollution. In the UK the Noise Abatement Society is a small but vociferous band. It is an area that no one thinks or cares about, till suddenly there is a ban on any live music after 22:00 or a ban on muzak in lifts. Many public venues now have an automatic reporting system. If the decibels exceed a certain pre-set level the event is recorded and the organisers get an automatic fine.

Or there might be a question of someone having to buy a Street Entertainer's Licence.

But in the end I think it probably comes down to personal preference. Not everyone (not even in Scotland) likes the sound of the pipes.

Regards

Chas

[OC Richard]

I've piped at weddings and funerals here in the USA for over 30 years now, and this issue of certain clergy not wanting bagpipes inside the church crops up from time to time. Often the person objecting is not the clergy but the Wedding Coordinators (who have a way of imposing their will on clergy and congregants alike).

"Once bitten, twice shy" as they say, and I really can't blame the people who object to having pipes inside the church, after being exposed to pipers playing their Pipe Band competition setup pipes, with the chanter screaming a quartertone sharp and as loud and brassy as human ingenuity is capable of making it.

If all pipers used warm woody mellow concert-pitch (466) chanters for church gigs we would have far fewer people objecting to pipes in church.

But alas many pipers don't want to be bothered and just play their Band setup pipes indoors, and pipers like me have to suffer the consequences, either losing gigs (like the piper in the story did) or having to play outside.

I even have a hard time convincing people to let me play my uilleann pipes in the church. They don't believe me when I say they are the same volume as a single violin or flute. Many's the time I've had to actually play the uilleann pipes for them. As soon as they hear them, my playing in the church is approved.

And I tell them I can play Highland pipes at that same volume as well- my Miniature Highland pipes.

(Ironically it's the often the best pipers who do the most public damage, because the best band pipers have the loudest and sharpest pipes. I inherited one regular gig because the church didn't like they piper they had hired once, a former Pipe Major of a Grade One band!! The guy is a fantastic player but he came into the church playing incredibly loud and incredibly sharp and the church didn't like it one bit. Of course this guy knows all about 466 chanters and probably has one, but he didn't bother to switch out his band chanter for the gig.)