Ruberslaw

Bedrule church has a commanding view over to Ruberslaw and on Easter Day the church conducts a service of worship at the summit. The church has benefited from the generosity of Sir Robert Usher (local Brewing family) and is worthy of a visit. The village name is said to be Gaelic meaning 'The village by the roaring stream'.  Bedrule is remembered as the birthplace of Bishop Turnbull, the founder of Glasgow University, who was granted the papal bull by Pope Nicholas V in 1451; the connection with the University has been maintained since then, and in 1951 a torch was carried from the village to Glasgow as part of the quincentenary celebrations. Bedrule is also notable for its special and ancient significance for mediaeval pilgrims on their way to Melrose Abbey.

The present church in Denholm was built as a Free Church in 1844 at the time of the Disruption, which had taken place the previous year when two fifths of the Scottish clergy broke away from the Established Church. They were no longer prepared to tolerate private patronage and interference from civil authorities in church matters. The people of Denholm built their new church with money they raised themselves on a site made available by the Laird, the Earl of Douglas, who was presumably pleased to support the new Free Church because it defied the Established Church - which his family had long opposed. Some of the stones were collected by the village women from the river, and rough undressed stonework can still be seen in a section of the north wall near the entrance to the Pitt Memorial Hall. The Hall was built in 1892 in memory of the Rev. Thomas Pitt who died in service as minister.  Two of the longest serving ministers were the Rev. James McClymont who held office for 40 years from 1847 to 1886 and the Rev. John Smith who was minister for 36 years from 1892 until his death in 1928.  The United Free Church (as it became known in 1900) was known locally as the Kirk. Chapel and Kirk appear to have coexisted well until the Chapel finally closed in the 1920’s. On alternate Sundays the Independent congregation would worship at the Kirk and their Preacher, William Ramsay, also served as an elder and seat rent officer for the Kirk.  The United Free Church in Denholm rejoined the Established Church, now the Church of Scotland, in 1929 under the Presbytery of Jedburgh. But some who had been in the habit of traveling to Cavers or Minto continued to do so throughout the 1930’s. In 1963 it was linked with the Parish of Bedrule and in 1975 with Minto.

There is a fascinating website dedicated the local history of Denholm Village.  Visit it by clicking here.

Minto was a planned village, designed and laid out by William Playfair for the 2nd Earl of Minto. The Church - a Victorian building in the Gothic style - was built as part of the plan and was completed in 1831, replacing a much earlier mediaeval building which stood a short distance to the east and which was recorded as far back as 1275.  An impressive war memorial, by Thomas Clapperton of Galashiels, stands behind the church. More information on this and many other war memorials and plaques found within the churches of the parish can be found on the Scottish War Memorials forum website -  click here to visit this very interesting site, where visitors are encouraged to make contributions to the histories and details recorded.