Bonkyl Church Facts for Kids

Bonkyl Kirk

Bonkyl Church (sometimes called Buncle or Bunkle) is a special building in Scotland. It's a Church of Scotland church, also known as a kirk. You can find it about 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of a town called Duns. It's in an old area called Berwickshire. The name "Bonkyl" comes from the Scottish Gaelic words Bun na Cille, which mean 'the hill foot of the church'. The small village of Preston is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) southwest of the church.

History of Bonkyl Church

There has been a church or religious place at Bonkyl for a very long time, since the early 1100s. Before the year 1275, it was part of the church area of Dunkeld. The first owner of the church was Sir Alexander de Bonkyl. In 1304, his daughter Margaret took care of the church. After Margaret passed away, the Bonkyl land and church went to her son, Sir Alexander Stewart of Bonkyl.

During the Second War of Scottish Independence, which was a big conflict, the church's location was important. A knight named Thomas Ughtred was involved in fighting over the area. Later, the Douglas family, who were Earls of Angus and related to the Stewarts, looked after the church. Finally, in 1877, the church came under the care of the Earl of Home.

Bonkyl Church used to be its own separate church area, called a parish, until 1621. Then, it joined with the nearby parish of Preston. In 1958, the churches of Bonkyl and Preston also joined with Reston. Later, in 1973, Chirnside joined them too. The church building you see today is considered a very important historical building in Scotland.

The very old church at Bonkyl became a ruin and was taken down in 1820. That's when the church building we see now was built. The only part left of the original old church is a special curved part called a Norman apse. This curved section was later used as a burial place for the Home family of Billie. People believe it's the oldest part of its kind in Scotland, built in the early 1100s. It is now a protected historical site.

Bonkyl Church facts for kids

History of Bonkyl Church

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