Erin Presbyterian - 130 years old and still growing

130 years old – and still growing strong

Despite being a part of the liberal PCUSA, Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville is still growing. Why? It’s because we preach and practice the Gospel. The denomination may be trying to appease the politically correct and losing its identity through endorsing multi-cultural beliefs, but we hold dear the basics of Presbyterian and Reformed Christianity: that Christ is our Lord; we are all sinners; and Jesus is the only Savior of the world. Other churches may go down the slippery slope of placating current trends and adopting worldly ways, but Erin’s Scots-Irish tenacity enables it to stay the course that Christ requires.

Interested? Come and join us this Sunday at 11.00am. We’re just off Kingston Pike at Lockett Road, diagonally across from the junction at Papermill Drive.

130 years of "Erin Go Bragh" today at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville

West Knoxville’s oldest Scots-Irish church, Erin Presbyterian, off Lockett Rd at Kingston Pike, near Papermill Drive, celebrates 130 years of preaching the Gospel today. It was chartered on Sunday September 30, 1877 and was originally situated where Kingston Pike meets Northshore Road.

‘Erin’ is the old Irish name for Ireland and means ‘the beautiful isle.’ The current pastor of the church is native Scotsman Rev. John Stuart. He has been preaching to the congregation in his Scottish brogue for the past twelve years. Today, he’ll be welcoming visitors and members with two traditional Scots-Irish Gaelic greetings: ‘Ceud Mhille Failte’ (a hundred thousand welcomes) and “Erin Go Bragh” (Ireland Forever).

Everyone is welcome to attend the church at 11.00am for the worship service. During the service, young Ella Grace Levering, whose family goes back six generations to the beginning of the church, will be baptized. An anniversary reception with birthday cake will take place after worship.

Erin Presbyterian - West Knoxville's Oldest Church is 130 years old this weekend

There's a balloonfest at Pellissippi; a Greekfest on Kingston Pike; and in the Bearden community, Erin Presbyterian celebrates 130 years.



All friends and members of Erin, all families who have a connection to Erin are welcome to attend the special celebration during worship on Sunday Sep 30, 2007 at 11.00am. Ella Grace Levering will be baptized, whose family includes six generations of Erin church members.

Glenfinnan - Knoxville's only Celtic Christian Bothy Band

Glenfinnan are playing tomorrow at the Dandridge Scots-Irish festival. All the musicians and singers live in Knoxville. They've played at many festivals in and around this region. They are due to perform at 10.30AM, 4.00pm, and 6.15pm.

As usual, they'll be playing their standard Scots-Irish songs like Loch Lomond, Kelvingrove, Star of the County Down, Green Grow the Rushes, the Water is Wide, and Auld Lang Syne. At the end of their gig, they'll also play "Sweet Tennessee" - a song that they composed all about the beauty, spirit, and strength of Tennesseans.

For more information, visit their page on their church's website at

http://www.erinpresbyterian.org/mission/creative_expr/glenfinnan.html