Ednam Church facts for kids
Ednam Church is a special church in Scotland. It is part of the Church of Scotland. This church works together with Kelso North Church in a town called Kelso. Ednam is in an area known as the Scottish Borders Council, which used to be called Roxburghshire. The church is about 3 miles (4.8 km) north-east of Kelso, right on the B6461 road.
Contents
History of Ednam Church
The First Church and Its Beginnings
The first known owner of the land where Ednam Church stands was a person named Thorlongus. He was also called Thor the Tall. The area was known as Ednaham back then. This name means 'Settlement on the Eden Water'.
Ednam is famous for being the first known parish in Scotland. A parish is like a local church area. It is thought that King Edgar of Scotland started this idea in 1105. He wanted local people to have more say in how things were managed.
Churches Through the Years
There have been at least three churches built in Ednam. The very first one was started in 1105. This was thanks to a special paper, called a charter, from Thor Longus. This first church was dedicated to St. Cuthbert. It was so important that people called it 'the mother church of Hedenham'.
This 12th-century church lasted a long time. But in 1523, it was destroyed by English raiders. After that, the church was rebuilt.
St. Leonard's Hospital and Chapel
There was another old religious building in Ednam. It was called St. Leonard's hospital and chapel. This place was started when William I of Scotland was king (1165–1214). William's mother, Ada de Warenne, gave the hospital to its leaders and people.
Later, in 1392, King Robert III of Scotland gave the hospital to his sister. It was a wedding gift for her and her husband, John Edmondstoune. The Edmonstoune family owned Ednam for the next 250 years. Sadly, the hospital was badly damaged by the English in 1542 and again in 1544. It was never repaired. The field where it stood is still called the Spital field today.
Rebuilding and Renovations
The church built in 1523 was in bad shape by 1680. It needed to be rebuilt again. The new church was built in a slightly different spot. It was used until 1820. Then, another new church was built.
In 1902, this church was greatly improved and made bigger. New parts were added, like a chancel (the area around the altar), a porch, and a vestry for the minister. The work was done by architects from Edinburgh, Hardy and Wight.
A copy of Thor's original charter from 1105 is kept in Ednam Church.
Ednam Church After the Reformation
Changes in Worship
In 1560, a big change happened in Scotland. It was called the Scottish Reformation. During this time, the monks left the church. The traditional church service, called the mass, was no longer allowed.
It took 39 years for Ednam to get a full-time minister. Before that, people called 'Readers' led the Sunday services. They also helped with important church ceremonies.
Ministers and Church Leaders
In 1599, Rev. Thomas Porteous became the first Protestant minister at Ednam. Then, in 1617, John Clapperton took over. He seemed to prefer a church style that supported bishops, known as Episcopalian.
In 1637, Archbishop Laud and King Charles I of Scotland tried to bring a new prayer book to Scotland. It was called the Book of Common Prayer. Most people in Scotland did not like this book at all.
When the National Covenant of Scotland was signed in Edinburgh in February 1638, Clapperton was removed from his job. A Presbyterian minister, John Somerville, was appointed instead. Presbyterian churches are led by elders, not bishops.
However, King Charles I stepped in, and John Clapperton was put back in charge. John Somerville returned to the post again in 1639. He preached at Ednam Kirk until 1660. That's when Charles II of Scotland brought back the disliked prayer book.
Robert Young was then made the 'vicar of Ednam'. He stayed until 1668. After Young, Adam Peacock became the vicar. But the church members still wanted to go back to the National Covenant. Adam Peacock was in charge until 1683. Then, William Speed became the new preacher.
In 1688, William of Orange and his wife, Mary, became the new rulers. William Speed quickly left his job. He knew that the Anglican Common Book of Prayer would soon be banned in Scotland's churches.
List of Ministers
- 1692 Thomas Thomson
- 1702 William Baxter
- 1723 Thomas Pollock
- 1765 David Dickson
- 1796 Robert Robertson
- 1819 Joseph Thomson
- 1844 William Lamb
- 1878 John Burleigh
- 1925 William Scott
- 1952 John McBride
- 1970 Donald Gaddes
- 1994 Tom McDonald
