Go To "KIRK" on Sunday: The Scottish Kirk aka Church

AENN

By Paul Preston

I love it when God blesses us in small but big ways. While Charlie Kirk was taken from us his legacy and spirit live on in his Name.

"Seeing the word 'kirk' in a Scottish placename is a reference to a Church."

The word 'kirk' in a Scottish placename refers to a church, derived from the Old Norse and Scots language for "church". The term often denotes a church associated with Scotland's Presbyterian heritage, and when used as a proper noun, it informally refers to the Church of Scotland itself.

Also found in North America and other parts of the UK, kirk in Scotland is thought to be an English translation of the Gaelic cille or eaglais, both of which mean 'church'.

One of the most famous 'kirks' in Scotland is Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway - mainly because of the difficulty some have in pronouncing it. Its original name was Kilcudbrit, which derived from the Gaelic Cille Chuithbeirt meaning 'chapel of Cuthbert'. Cuthbert of Lindisfarme was an Anglo-Saxon saint who lived in the seventh century. His remains were taken to Kirkcudbright after the Viking invasion before being returned to England.

The biggest 'kirk' is Kirkcaldy in Fife. It proves the 'church' rule is not definitive as it means "place of the hard fort" or "place of Caled's fort" and derives from Pictish.

Cille also became 'kil' over the years. So 'Marnock's Church' became Kilmarnock, referencing the saint Marnock. Staying in Ayrshire, West Kilbride comes from the ancient Celtic Saint Brigid of Kildare, often known as St Bride.