The “Who”, “Where”, and “When” questions are easy. On May 15, the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, will celebrate Scottish Heritage Sunday with bagpipers, drummers and a special Kirkin’ of the Tartans during the service, as well as a serving of tea and shortbread afterwards. Plus, you’ll get a chance to catch many of your neighbors in their Scottish finery … something you don’t see every day! This is the second time the church, located at 117 S. Main St. in downtown Greensboro, will be holding the event. 

As to the “What” and “Why” questions, Scottish Heritage Sunday is a uniquely American celebration of Presbyterianism’s Scottish roots. It all started back in the mid-16^th century during the height of the Protestant Reformation. A Scotsman named John Knox was studying in Geneva with the likes of reformer John Calvin. What John Knox brought back to Scotland laid the foundation for today’s Presbyterian Church. Presbyterianism largely came to America in two waves. First, in 1732 General James Oglethorpe landed near modern day Savannah with more than 200 Scots to help create a barrier between English Georgia and Spanish Florida. From there Presbyterianism started moving into the interior of Georgia. A second influx of Scots to America came after the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at the hands of the British in 1745, thus ending Scotland’s bid to be an independent country. Many of them migrated to the mountainous frontier areas of the colonies and gradually made their way into northern Georgia. The earliest known gathering of Presbyterians in Greene County was in 1786 and the first official record of a Presbyterian Church in Greensboro is dated to 1820. Finally, the mention above of the Kirkin’of the Tartans. And just what is that all about? Traditionally, the tartan, or emblem, of a Scottish clan has been its plaid. The Kirkin’ of the Tartans is a prayer or blessing of the families those tartans represent, which we today have expanded to include all families.

As was stated earlier, Scottish Heritage Sunday is an American invention. (If you were to ask a Scotsman in Edinburgh when Scottish Heritage Sunday is celebrated, you would likely be greeted with a blank stare.) The timing of the celebration is tied to the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. The date was May 21, 1789, and the Sunday celebration of that event takes place on or near that day every year. 

So, plan to join us on Sunday, May 15 at 11 a.m. Bask in the pageantry, lose yourself in the glorious sounds of the bagpipes, drums and organ, and see many of us in tartan kilts, shawls and scarves as we celebrate our Scottish roots.