St Boswells Church History
Thanks to the late Jean S Lawrie for extracts from her book ‘Old St Boswells, copies of which may be purchased from the Old Post Office in St Boswells.
The name St Boswells comes from St Boisil, a Monk brought by St Aidan to Mailros (Melrose) on the River Tweed between 635 and 650. He built St Boisil’s Chapel near the Tweed, a mile or so south and slightly east of the present village. The original village of St Boswells (or St Boisil) grew up around the site of St Boisil's Chapel.
Records tell us that in 1153 Thomas de Loudonia was granted leave to build a church dedicated to St Mary near the position of the present Lessudden House. ln those days, and until the 19th century, the settlement where St Boswells now stands was known as Lessudden. St Mary's remained the parish church until the Reformation in the second half of the 16th century.
The name St Boswells comes from St Boisil, a Monk brought by St Aidan to Mailros (Melrose) on the River Tweed between 635 and 650. He built St Boisil’s Chapel near the Tweed, a mile or so south and slightly east of the present village. The original village of St Boswells (or St Boisil) grew up around the site of St Boisil's Chapel.
Records tell us that in 1153 Thomas de Loudonia was granted leave to build a church dedicated to St Mary near the position of the present Lessudden House. ln those days, and until the 19th century, the settlement where St Boswells now stands was known as Lessudden. St Mary's remained the parish church until the Reformation in the second half of the 16th century.
Around 1652, when the Church of St Mary fell into disrepair, a new building, sometime known as the Auld Kirk, was erected to the west of the ruins of St Boisil’s Chapel. A later building was built to the east of the ruins. This was virtually rebuilt in 1791 and further enlarged in 1834 to accommodate 350 people.
In 1843 as a result of the Disruption of Churches in Scotland, a breakaway congregation formed the Free Kirk of St Boswells and for many months worship was held in a disused barn behind the smiddy. In 1844 a church was built on the present site in St Boswells, by voluntary labour costing only around £80. Flooring was added later but for some time seats were set on the bare earth. A vestry was added to the church in 1862. Until 1900 the building was known as St Boswells Free Church.
In 1900 the Free Churches of Scotland united with the United Presbyterians to become the United Free Church of Scotland and in 1929, St Boswells Free Church was renamed St Modan’s Church. (St Modan built a chapel at Dryburgh in 522).
In 1843 as a result of the Disruption of Churches in Scotland, a breakaway congregation formed the Free Kirk of St Boswells and for many months worship was held in a disused barn behind the smiddy. In 1844 a church was built on the present site in St Boswells, by voluntary labour costing only around £80. Flooring was added later but for some time seats were set on the bare earth. A vestry was added to the church in 1862. Until 1900 the building was known as St Boswells Free Church.
In 1900 the Free Churches of Scotland united with the United Presbyterians to become the United Free Church of Scotland and in 1929, St Boswells Free Church was renamed St Modan’s Church. (St Modan built a chapel at Dryburgh in 522).
|
This church continued in use until, at the time of the Union of Churches in Scotland in 1940, the Auld Kirk members joined with St Modan’s Church (the present Church) and the Auld Church was abandoned. It was finally demolished in 1951, leaving only its foundations which are still visible at Benrig, next to the current cemetery. |
|
|
St Modan’s Church became St Boswells Parish Church and was extensively renovated in the late 1950s. Some fragments of the stonework of the Auld Kirk are built into the current Parish Church. |
|
