A special Scottish service has captivated two congregations on two sides of Ontario. St. Columba, Dalkeith, about an hour's drive from Ottawa, and Knox, St. Thomas, just minutes south of London, are home to an annual service celebrating the traditions of its Scottish founders. Kirkin' O' the Tartan has been going strong at St. Columba for 27 years, and at Knox for four. The special service commemorates the hardships their highland ancestors endured after their defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. "It's a time to remember our heritage and what our Scottish ancestors went through," said Joslyn MacGillivray, a member of St. Columba for 12 years.
Led by Charles Edward Stuart who was intent on taking the English throne, the clans' loss to the English resulted in the outlaw of all things Scottish. Kilts, the Gaelic language and bagpipes were strictly forbidden. Refusing to be stymied, the highland churches set aside one day each year for the blessing of the tartans. On that day, clansmen wore a piece of tartan under their coat, next to their heart, and the minister offered a prayer of thanks for the heritage tied to the cloth.
In modern times, the kirkin' service was originally revived by a Presbyterian church in Washington, D.C., at the beginning of the Second World War. The minister noted that many of the Scots in the United States had family overseas who were fighting and dying in the war while the U.S. remained on the sidelines. It was an attempt to remind his countrymen of their roots.
Presbyterians first settled in St. Columba's area in 1794. In 1819, Rev. John McLaurin was the first Scottish minister and a small wooden church was erected shortly after. The first service in the present building, perched proudly atop Kirk Hill with its greying brick and towering spire, was held in 1865. Today, the congregation and the town itself remain distinctly Scottish and Irish.
Their annual service – this year on July 31 — is held on the Sunday following the Maxville Highland Games in North Glengarry — an event that attracts 20,000 people from across the country. St. Columba's service, which draws 400 people, features a guest minister, pipers and fiddlers playing traditional Scottish music, Gaelic singers and a procession and blessing of the tartans. During this time, those bearing the tartan flags — of which there were 24 last year — march around the church as their clan names are announced. "It's a great way to cap off a Scottish weekend!" said MacGillivray, a member of the event's advertising committee.
Since an average Sunday service draws about 22 parishioners, the annual event is an exciting time for the congregation and has become a distinct part of their identity. "We're the only church in Eastern Ontario that does this," said MacGillivray. "We're all very proud of it. It brings people to our church who would never come otherwise."
Nestled along the shores of Lake Erie in Elgin County, Knox' 2005 edition will be held on Sept. 25. The annual event has become a highlight for the community, drawing visitors from across Canada, the U.S. and even Scotland and England. Family reunions are planned to coincide with the special day. The event has become an integral part of the congregation's outreach program. "A lot of new people come into our church because of it," said Linda Todd, kirkin' committee secretary. "People are often intimidated by the size of our church and merely by the fact that it is a church. But this event offers a non-threatening way to come inside. We hope they feel welcome and come back – and that's what's been happening."
St. Thomas is a distinctly Scottish town. The original organizing committee was saturated with Scottish blood. The committee's chairman, Tom Findlay, who was the driving force behind the event, is a native of Glasgow. Their hard work has paid off as the festivities keep growing and now attract more than 600 worshippers – something that organizers never dreamed of. Residents and guests don their clan tartan – with 39 banners in total – for a parade from the Elgin County Courthouse to the church. The parade is led by the pipes and drums of the London Firefighters Association Pipe Band.
The service features the largest pipe organ in southwestern Ontario, and a choir of 50 voices. The tartans are piped in and out of the sanctuary and the blessing features a laying of crossed swords on the Bible. The event holds special meaning for those who participate. "It's a way to combine a worship service with a thank you to everyone who went before us; for their faith and perseverance," said Todd.
