Chirnside Parish Church
Encyclopedia
Chirnside Parish Church is a kirk
of the Church of Scotland
. It is situated on the B6355 road between Duns
and Eyemouth
in the old county of Berwickshire
, now part of the Scottish Borders
, at . The town of Chirnside
is 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Duns, and 9 miles (14.5 km) north-west of Berwick-upon-Tweed
.
(1097–1107), in a charter granting the lands and church to the monks of Durham
. The 12th-century church was known as Ecclesia de Chirnyside and it was valued at 50 merks.
The first church at Chirnside was a plain rectangular building with a thatched roof and earthen floor. The altar dominated the east end and a priest would conduct daily mass, probably from a pulpit near the altar.
The Ecclesia de Chirnyside was dedicated, like many other church establishments in the area, by David de Bernham
, Bishop of St Andrews, on in 13 April 1242. In 1524 a young man named Luke Acheson, who lived in the village, was keeping watch from the tower of the church, and was killed by six English freebooter
s.
] as the body of a the church was extensively repaired in 1573, and the first minister of the new reformed faith was not installed until that year (see list of early ministers). In 1581, during the reign of King James VI of Scotland, the church was mentioned in a national list of Presbyteries.
There was further extensive renewal in 1757, and a new manse
was built for the minister. A wall on the western tower was retained in the renovations, with an engraved plate declaring "Helpe the pyr" (Help the poor) and the date 1573. A Norman archway was retained from the 12th century church.
In 1904, following the death of Lady Tweedmouth and her burial at the west end of the church, her husband, Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth
completely reshaped the interior of the church. He built a hall, a new vestry and added a new tower. Following the Baron's death, his son erected a memorial gateway in memory of his father.
The already united churches of Free Church and United Free Church, joined the Church of Scotland kirk on 1929. The North Church closed in 1973 but reopened in 1984 as a community centre. The United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
building was demolished in 1982. Chirnside Parish Church is a category B listed building. World Champion Formula One driver Jim Clark
(1936–1968) was buried in Chirnside Kirkyard, after his death in April 1968 at the Hockenheimring
in Germany
.
Kirk
Kirk can mean "church" in general or the Church of Scotland in particular. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it.-Basic meaning and etymology:...
of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. It is situated on the B6355 road between Duns
Duns
Duns is the county town of the historic county of Berwickshire, within the Scottish Borders.-Early history:Duns law, the original site of the town of Duns, has the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at its summit...
and Eyemouth
Eyemouth
Eyemouth , historically spelt Aymouth, is a small town and civil parish in Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It is east of the main north-south A1 road and just north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. It has a population of circa 3,420 people .The town's name comes from its location at...
in the old county of Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, now part of the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
, at . The town of Chirnside
Chirnside
Chirnside is a hillside village in Berwickshire in Scotland, west of Berwick-upon-Tweed and east of Duns.-Notables:David Hume, the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, lived in Ninewells House, just south of the village...
is 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Duns, and 9 miles (14.5 km) north-west of Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
.
History
The first records of Chirnside and its church came in the early 12th century during the reign of King Edgar of ScotlandEdgar of Scotland
Edgar or Étgar mac Maíl Choluim , nicknamed Probus, "the Valiant" , was king of Alba from 1097 to 1107...
(1097–1107), in a charter granting the lands and church to the monks of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. The 12th-century church was known as Ecclesia de Chirnyside and it was valued at 50 merks.
The first church at Chirnside was a plain rectangular building with a thatched roof and earthen floor. The altar dominated the east end and a priest would conduct daily mass, probably from a pulpit near the altar.
The Ecclesia de Chirnyside was dedicated, like many other church establishments in the area, by David de Bernham
David de Bernham
David de Bernham was Chamberlain of King Alexander II of Scotland and subsequently, Bishop of St. Andrews. He was elected to the see in June 1239, and finally consecrated, after some difficulties, in January, 1240. He died in 1253, and was buried at Nenthorn, near Kelso.-References:*Dowden, John,...
, Bishop of St Andrews, on in 13 April 1242. In 1524 a young man named Luke Acheson, who lived in the village, was keeping watch from the tower of the church, and was killed by six English freebooter
Freebooter
Freebooter may refer to:* Marine freebooters, or pirates.* Filibuster , a group of individuals who engage in unauthorized warfare against foreign countries.* Rapparee, the Irish usage.* Meadowbrook Freebooters, American polo team...
s.
Post Reformation
It would appear the old church was badly damaged at the ReformationScottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
] as the body of a the church was extensively repaired in 1573, and the first minister of the new reformed faith was not installed until that year (see list of early ministers). In 1581, during the reign of King James VI of Scotland, the church was mentioned in a national list of Presbyteries.
There was further extensive renewal in 1757, and a new manse
Manse
A manse is a house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of a Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist or United Church...
was built for the minister. A wall on the western tower was retained in the renovations, with an engraved plate declaring "Helpe the pyr" (Help the poor) and the date 1573. A Norman archway was retained from the 12th century church.
In 1904, following the death of Lady Tweedmouth and her burial at the west end of the church, her husband, Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth
Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth
Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth KT, PC was a British Liberal Party statesman who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 until 1894 when he inherited his peerage and then sat in the House of Lords...
completely reshaped the interior of the church. He built a hall, a new vestry and added a new tower. Following the Baron's death, his son erected a memorial gateway in memory of his father.
The already united churches of Free Church and United Free Church, joined the Church of Scotland kirk on 1929. The North Church closed in 1973 but reopened in 1984 as a community centre. The United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
United Presbyterian Church of Scotland
The United Presbyterian Church of Scotland was a Scottish Presbyterian denomination. It was formed in 1847 by the union of the United Secession Church and the Relief Church, and in 1900 merged with the Free Church of Scotland to form the United Free Church of Scotland, which in turn united with...
building was demolished in 1982. Chirnside Parish Church is a category B listed building. World Champion Formula One driver Jim Clark
Jim Clark
James "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....
(1936–1968) was buried in Chirnside Kirkyard, after his death in April 1968 at the Hockenheimring
Hockenheimring
The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg is an automobile racing track situated near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located on Bertha Benz Memorial Route. Amongst other motor racing events, it biennially hosts the Formula One German Grand Prix...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
List of Post-Reformation ministers
- 1573 John Hume
- 1577 Robert Denholm
- 1583 John Douglas
- 1607 Alexander Smith
See also
- List of places in the Scottish Borders
- List of places in East Lothian
- List of places in Edinburgh
- List of places in Midlothian
- List of places in West Lothian
- List of places in Scotland
External links
- Photos of Chirnside Parish Church, from Geograph