Bridgeville United Church Tartan

Even more memorable than these, however, is the patterned fabric which has come to symbolize Scottish culture itself: Tartan is the only textile design in the world of which a tiny scrap can evoke such feelings of pride, such identification with the historical struggles of Scots, and identification with those desirable traits associated with being Scottish - honesty, industriousness and bravery in battle.*

Although tartan-style fabrics have a very long history – a good portion of it not Scottish – today these textiles are most famous as badges of identification. Specific colors and their arrangements function as a symbolic language in their own right, representing individuals, families and clans, as well as professional groups, companies, and organizations. To the huge international family of Scots and their descendants - estimated at 40 to 60 million around the globe - tartan represents everything that is admirable and wholesome about the land of their fathers.*

This tartan was designed by Ann Cameron in June 2013 for Reverend Bonnie Fraser, Minister of Bridgeville United Church in Nova Scotia, and the members of the congregation to commemorate their 120th anniversary. The colours chosen were significant to the congregation:

•Light blue for water and sky.

•Green represents the season of growth.

•White stands for Easter and Christmas.

•Orange symbolizes Autumn; black the printed word; yellow the riches of life; red and royal blue the congregation’s religious beliefs; and grey the iron ore from local mines.

*https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/index

**https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tartanDetails?ref=12038