Polwarth Parish Church facts for kids
Polwarth Parish Church was once a church belonging to the Church of Scotland. It closed its doors in 2004.
This historic church sits on top of a small hill. You can find it off a smaller road that connects Greenlaw to Duns in what used to be Berwickshire. Today, a family owns the church and the nearby Polwarth Manse. It can even be used for weddings! The church is about 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Duns and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east of Greenlaw.
A Look Back: Church History
The exact beginnings of Polwarth Church are a bit unclear. A sign inside the church says there might have been a church here as early as 900 AD. However, there are no old records to prove this. The first official mention of the church comes from 1242 AD. In that year, David de Bernham, who was a bishop from St. Andrews, officially opened the church. He dedicated it to St. Kentigern, also known as St. Mungo.
In 1296, a person named Adam Lamb was the priest at the "church of Paulesworth." He promised loyalty to King Edward I of England in Berwick upon Tweed. A few years later, in 1299, King Edward chose William de Sandynstone to be the new priest at Polwarth. By 1378, the church was in bad shape, almost falling apart. But then, John de St. Clair of Herdmanstoun helped out. He was related to Sir Patrick Hume of Marchmont. John de St. Clair provided the money and help needed to rebuild the church.
After the Reformation
In 1567, Adam Hume became the first leader of the church after the Scottish Reformation. The Reformation was a big change in Scotland when the church moved away from the Pope's authority.
Later, in 1683, Sir Patrick Hume got into trouble because of something called the Rye House Plot. This was a plan to harm the King of England. To avoid being caught, Sir Patrick Hume hid for four weeks in a secret room under Polwarth Church. His brave daughter, Grizel, who later became Lady Grizel Baillie, secretly brought him food while he was hiding.
The church building you see today was mostly rebuilt in 1703. It stands on the same spot as the older churches and even includes some parts from those earlier buildings. Polwarth Kirk is considered a very important historical building. It is protected as a "category A listed building" in Scotland. This means it's a special and well-preserved building.
The church is built from rough stones and has a slanted roof. It has a unique "T" shape and features a tall, four-part tower. The inside of the church was updated in the 20th century. You can also see the Marchmont family crypt inside. This is a special burial place for the Marchmont family, visible through a metal screen at the bottom of the east wall.
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