Westminster UCC hosts Kirkin' o' the Tartans

Andy Castrolang, pastor, introduces children to the tradition of Kirkin' o' the Tartans.

When the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John in Spokane was unable to schedule the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans, Roger Ross of the St. Andrew’s Society asked Andy CastroLang of Westminister Congregational UCC to hold the recognition there.

The Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans is a tradition of Americans of Scottish descent, homesick for their homeland.  Tartans are the plaid designs and colors that represent their family clans.

After an 18th century rebellion, the English government banned wearing tartans, playing bagpipes and bearing arms.  Scots secretly carried a small piece of their clan’s tartan to church under their clothes and the minister included a blessing in the benediction.  In the 1940s, Scottish Presbyterian pastor Peter Marshall created the American celebration, Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans.

Alan Mackay of Westminster and Morag Stewart of Cheney UCC wore their tartans.

For information, call 509-624-1366.

 

Copyright Pacific Northwest Conference News © January 2011