I am a seventh-generation native of Henry County, Georgia. My great-great-great grandmother and most of her adult children relocated there from another Georgia county in 1825. These folks were Elliotts--two Ls and two Ts. Before the Revolutionary War, my great-great-great-great (4 greats) grandparents Elliott immigrated from the lowlands (borders) of Scotland via the Ulster plantation in Northern Ireland. These immigrant ancestors were George Elliott, Sr and Mary Henry Elliott.
When I was a child, my Mom became really interested in genealogy and in her Scottish roots. When I was an undergraduate student, my brother took my parents to Scotland for the first time. In 1997 I visited Scotland myself for the first time. I've been back two other times since then. It's a place that speaks to me, that feels like home to me. I always enjoy being there.
On Friday, Becky and I depart for another visit to Scotland. We are looking forward, God willing, to cooler temperatures as we explore Edinburgh, meet up with ten of my cousins, and head to the Borders. The twelve of us and a couple hundred other Elliott descendants will gather at Redheugh, the ancestral home of the Elliott clan chiefs for the last 500 years. In addition to the formal gathering day, we'll visit the ruins of Borders abbeys, go to a county fair, listen to lots of bagpipes, and enjoy some Scottish country dancing. We'll wear lots of tartan, and we'll visit Hermitage Castle (pictured here) which was in the care of Elliotts for centuries.
We return, God willing, on August 30. For the time we are away, I leave you in the very good pastoral care of the Reverend Barry Griffin, retired priest of the Diocese of Atlanta and one of my mentors in discernment and formation for the priesthood. Barry and his husband John will stay in Kipany House (the historic rectory) and be with you on the Sundays of August 20 and 27. Please welcome Barry+ and John in your customarily wonderful St Paul's way. And, on Sunday, August 20, please also warmly welcome the people of St Peter's, Key West as they join with St Paul's for worship at 10 AM.
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