Legerwood Kirk facts for kids
Legerwood Kirk is a very old and important church in Scotland. It belongs to the Church of Scotland. You can find it in a beautiful area called the Scottish Borders. The church is near a small place called Legerwood, about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Lauder. This church is special because it has been a place of worship for a very long time. It serves a farming community where people live spread out, not in big towns.
History of Legerwood Kirk
There has been a church or religious building at Legerwood for a very long time. We know this because a priest named John from "Ledgaresude" (an old name for Legerwood) was mentioned in a special document called a "charter" in 1127. A charter is like an official written agreement.
Later, in 1164, a person named Walter de Lauder gave the church to the monks of Paisley Abbey. These monks kept the church and its "tithes" until 1560. Tithes were like a tax, usually a tenth of what people earned or grew, given to the church. In 1560, the church in Scotland changed a lot during the "Reformation."
In 1296, the church's vicar, Walter, promised his loyalty to Edward I of England. This happened in a town called Berwick-upon-Tweed. Even today, the church still has its original "chancel." A chancel is the part of the church where the altar is, and this one was built in the old Norman style.
A Noted Minister: William Calderwood
The Reverend William Calderwood was the minister at Legerwood from 1655 to 1709. However, he was forced to leave his job for 27 years. This happened because he refused to follow a new rule called the "Act of Glasgow." This rule said that ministers had to use the prayer book of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The kings at the time, Charles I and Charles II, wanted everyone to use this prayer book.
William Calderwood believed strongly in his own way of worship. Because he refused to change, he was removed from his church. In 1684, the people who went to Legerwood Church were even fined. This was because they attended "Conventicles." These were secret religious meetings held by people who did not agree with the official church rules. Reverend Calderwood passed away in 1709. The house where the minister lived, called the manse, was not built until 1812.
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