Family pride in the tartan

A church celebrates the tradition and heritage of Scottish clans in its annual kirkin' service.

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Correspondent
Published November 10, 2007

PORT RICHEY - A celebration of the Kirkin' o' the Tartan was held last Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church of Port Richey. Banners, kilts, tartan plaids, prayers and the playing of the bagpipes helped members remember and celebratetheir heritage.

"It is always a unique service in celebration of the birth of Presbyterianism," said Elder Tammy Turner of the church. "It is also in honor of those who have passed onto the kirk (church)triumphant."

The Kirkin' o' the Tartan is also a memorial to the Scottish clansmen who in 1745 were forbidden by the British Crown to wear the tartans, (plaids) and to play the bagpipes and to acknowledge in any way their traditional clans or families. This decree prompted the stubborn Scots to secretly carry with them a piece of their tartans in the pockets as they went to church or "kirk."

On an appointed Sunday the minister would then slip into the service a blessing or "kirkin" for the tartans and the clans which the tartans represented.

"We do this every November," said Turner.

In the mid-1900s, the Rev. Peter Marshall of Coatbridge, Scotland, became pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and the chaplain of the Senate in Washington, D.C. At the outbreak of World War II, he preached a sermon titled "Kirkin' o' the Tartan" and forms of that worship service spread throughout Presbyterian churches across America.

It is a celebration of God's goodness to Christ's church, he told his congregation.

The Rev. Glendon Smith, 77, has served as interim pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Port Richey, 7540 Ridge Road, for the past two years. Although ordained as an Advent Christian minister he served in the Bayou Presbyterian Church in Tarpon Springs before being asked to serve in Port Richey. He officially retired 18 years ago, after many years as a full-time pastor.

"The name above the door of a church doesn't make a difference as long as I can preach Christ," he said. "I have preached in most denominations."

Smith said he had the privilege of sitting under the teaching of the Rev. Marshall at his seminary in Illinois.

"He was a guest lecturer," said Smith.

The kirkin service is uplifting, says Smith.

During the procession, first came the bagpiper, then a glass cross followed by family members carrying their banners with their individual tartans.

"Each clan had on plaid tartan kilts," said Turner, who wore blue, green and red from her family McFarlane clan. "It is nice to remember family traditions and nice to remember our heritage."

[Last modified November 9, 2007, 20:25:02]