Maxton Kirk History
The Church building stands on high ground overlooking and to the south of the River Tweed. Mertoun Parish faces Maxton across the Tweed. There is reputed to have been a church on or near the present site for close on 1000 years. In 1322 Edward 11 and his men destroyed Dryburgh Abbey on his retreat from Edinburgh. In revengeful mood, the English army set it on fire. 'One result of this destruction was the gift of Maxton Church, one of the last of such ecclesiastical possessions to become the property of the Abbey. According to Charter 297 of the Liber de Dryburgh, John, Bishop of Glasgow, in the year 1326, "because it is an act of piety to succour the needy and to exert oneself for the poor", directs his eyes to the burning of Dryburgh, and confirms to the monks the parish church of Maxton, of which the patronage, rights and dues had been granted by Walter the Steward'.
Sacred inscriptions are to be seen on both the North and South walls. The HEBREW inscription on the South wall translates "Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound, Selah". 1724. :- "O come and let us worship and bow down. (These are taken from Psalm 89.15 and Psalm 95.6). The LATIN inscription on the North wall, above the stained glass windows translates "Jesus is our safety".
The BELL bears the inscription, "1609, Soli Deo Gloria Jan Burgerhuys me fecit". It was made in the well-known factory at Middleburg in Holland.
STAINED GLASS - There are two stained glass windows in the North wall, They are thought to have been designed by James Henry Coram ARIBA, a London architect and are named firstly "He healed them that had need of healing " - Luke 9:11 and secondly "Suffer the little children to come unto me" - Mark 10:14
The BELL bears the inscription, "1609, Soli Deo Gloria Jan Burgerhuys me fecit". It was made in the well-known factory at Middleburg in Holland.
STAINED GLASS - There are two stained glass windows in the North wall, They are thought to have been designed by James Henry Coram ARIBA, a London architect and are named firstly "He healed them that had need of healing " - Luke 9:11 and secondly "Suffer the little children to come unto me" - Mark 10:14
Maxton Kirk Session gratefully acknowledge the use of extracts from Charles Denoon's book Maxton 2000 and Maxton Kirk History.
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