Kirking of the Scottish Parliament
The Kirking of the Scottish Parliament is a modern ceremony, adapted from those performed in the original Parliament of Scotland which was founded circa 1235 and disbanded in 1707.[1] It was re-introduced as a multi-faith service to co-incide with the opening of the Scottish Parliament which was devolved from the United Kingdom Parliament and reconvened in 1999.[2][3]It takes place very 4 years.[4]
Composition
The Kirking has been led by the Very Reverend Gilleasbuig Macmillan, Minister of St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. The services have typically consisted of readings from the Bible, the Qur'an, and Jewish prayers,[5] and are concluded by an act of commendation. From 2003, the sermon previously given by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, was dropped from the programme.[6]
Attendance
The service is attended by the leaders of all the main parties[7] and previous Kirkings have been have been attended by Prince Charles (in his capacity of Duke of Rothesay), musicians from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, as well as lobbyists.
References
- ↑ "First Qur’anic Recitation in the History of Kirking Ceremony". Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies.
- ↑ Earl of Wessex at Kirking of new Scottish Parliament
- ↑ "Continuity and change: the cultureof ritual and procession in the parliaments of Scotland" (PDF). Stirling University.
- ↑ "The Electoral System for the Scottish Parliament". The Scottish Parliament.
- ↑ Kirking of the Parliament from the Scottish Parliament website
- ↑ HRH attends the Kirking of the Scottish Parliament
- ↑ Prince attends Kirking ceremony