The 17th Annual Kirkin ‘O’ the Tartan will be held during the 10:45 a.m. worship service Sunday, Jan. 25, at First Presbyterian Church, 404 W. Reynolds St. This service celebrates the church’s Scottish heritage.
The St. Andrews Pipes & Drums of Tampa Bay will perform a concert on the front lawn after the service, followed by a luncheon in the church’s Fellowship Hall.
The history of the Kirkin dates back to the days when the Scottish Highlander Presbyterians, wore colorful plaids representing clans. English rule in 1745 made wearing the Tartan forbidden.But the royal Scots would bring a small swatch of tartan cloth into worship. Then, at a secret time during worship, the minister would offer the blessing while the Scots hid their tartans.