Newtown Church was opened in 1868, designed by John Paterson. Built in pink sandstone with cream stone margins, the simple nave and aisles change to a many sided apse flanked by porches, one with a pyramid roof, the other with a spire. The village of Newtown has been referred to through the ages as Newtoun, Newton, Newtown of Eildon and Newtown of Dryburgh. It was first recorded in 1529.
Newtown was until relatively recently in the Parish of Melrose, and was a milling centre for the grain of the area. The monks of Melrose Abbey brought corn to be ground at Newtown Mill and milling continued until the early 1900’s.
The Mill today has been converted into a house, but it still stands at the foot of the hill up to the Kirk. Being in Melrose Parish resulted in the village being without a church and graveyard for many years, but, with the Disruption in the Church of Scotland, Newtown became the base for a ‘branch’ of Selkirk First Secession Church in 1771, first, down the Glen, and later, in 1868, on the site of the present church.
In 1971 the Newtown Church held a year of Jubilee when a programme of events was held to commemorate the Bi-centennial. To mark the 150th year of the opening of the present building the congregation held a special service of celebration. We welcomed members past and present at that service, which was followed by a time of fellowship and hospitality. We staged a display of christening robes and wedding dresses which have been worn at celebrations in our building. For further information click the link below.
150th Anniversary
Newtown was until relatively recently in the Parish of Melrose, and was a milling centre for the grain of the area. The monks of Melrose Abbey brought corn to be ground at Newtown Mill and milling continued until the early 1900’s.
The Mill today has been converted into a house, but it still stands at the foot of the hill up to the Kirk. Being in Melrose Parish resulted in the village being without a church and graveyard for many years, but, with the Disruption in the Church of Scotland, Newtown became the base for a ‘branch’ of Selkirk First Secession Church in 1771, first, down the Glen, and later, in 1868, on the site of the present church.
In 1971 the Newtown Church held a year of Jubilee when a programme of events was held to commemorate the Bi-centennial. To mark the 150th year of the opening of the present building the congregation held a special service of celebration. We welcomed members past and present at that service, which was followed by a time of fellowship and hospitality. We staged a display of christening robes and wedding dresses which have been worn at celebrations in our building. For further information click the link below.
150th Anniversary