Stichill Kirk facts for kids
Stichill Kirk is a very old church located in the small village of Stichill. This village is in the area known as the Scottish Borders Council in Scotland. It's about 2 miles north of the town of Kelso.
Contents
The Story of Stichill Kirk
What's in a Name?
The name 'Stichill' might come from the Gaelic language. It is thought to mean a "downward slope" or a "hillside." This makes sense because the village is on a slope.
Early Days of the Church
The first time Stichill Kirk was mentioned was way back in 1124. A person named Gilleb was described as the "Presbyter" of Stichill. A presbyter is a type of church leader or priest.
In its very early years, powerful families like the Earls of Dunbar supported the church. Later, the monks of Kelso Abbey took charge of both the church and the local area it served. This arrangement continued for many years. It only changed after the Scottish Reformation in the 1560s.
Some of the first known church leaders were:
- Gilleb – a Presbyter in 1124
- W. de Stichel – in 1153
- Goze, Goscelno – a Sacerdos (another word for priest) in 1158
Changes After the Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was a big change in Scotland's religious history. After this time, the first known minister at Stichill Kirk was Reverend William Hood. He served the church from 1567 to 1577.
In 1640, the churches of Stichill and Hume joined together. Records for the local area have been kept ever since then. The church building you see today was first built in 1770. It was then largely rebuilt in 1869 and had major updates in 1906.
Another church, called The Associate Church of Stichill, was built in 1773. This church later became part of The United Free Church of Scotland in 1900. Finally, in 1938, this Associate Church joined with Stichill Parish Church. The Associate Church was also known as the Cairns Memorial Church.
In the 1700s, the Associate Church was famous for its yearly "Holy Fairs." These were large religious gatherings. Today, the old Associate Church building is a private home. Stichill Parish Church is now connected with several other local churches. These include Smailhom, Hume, Roxburgh, Ednam, and Nenthorn.
A Special Minister
Reverend George Gunn M.A. was a notable minister at Stichill Kirk. He served the church from 1878 until 1900. He gave his last sermon on November 5, 1899.
See also
