HUTTOX.
This parish consists of the old parishes of Hutton and Fishwick.
There is no mention of the church of Hutton until the year 1243, although it likely existed well before this date, possibly during the time of King Edgar, as "Huton" was one of the manors bestowed by that king upon the monks of St. Cuthbert, Durham. In 1243, the church was dedicated by David de Bernham, Bishop of St. Andrews. In the year 1296, "Thomas, parsoria de Huton," swore fealty to Edward I. From that time until Fishwick was united with Hutton in 1614, there is no further information about the church.
In 1655, the church (likely the original building) underwent significant repairs, as evidenced by the following extracts from session records:
"Dec. 4, 1655. — 'Given to George Smith— 36 sh.'
"Taken out of the box to pay the woman in Barwick for the timber to the laft — 18 sh. starling, 7d.'
"Given to George Smith for thatching of the kirk — 50 sh.'
"Jan. 13, 1656. — 'Given to James Scouller in part of payment 4 lib. for working the timber of the laft.'**
"Feb. 3, 1656. — 'Given out of the boxe to Mrs. Dune in Barwick — 8 sh. starling 9d for timber to the kirk.'**
No portion of the pre-Reformation church remains. Its successor was built in 1765 and replaced in 1835 by the present church, a handsome modern structure in the Norman style with a fine square tower.*
Churchyard Inscriptions
The churchyard contains a number of old and very interesting tombstones.
An old stone bears the following Latin inscription:
"Vixi quoad volui:
Volui quoad fata volebant;
Nec mihi vita brevis,
Nec mihi longa fuit."
On a neatly carved stone:
"Here lye the bodyes of James King who departed this life 1687 and Janet St. his wife who died 1672."
On a small stone:
"Heir lyes John Forman who died in February 17, 1684, and Nicolis Trotter his wife who died in May 21, 1694, and James Forman ther sone who died 1700."
An artistically carved stone reads:
"Heir lyes Marie Thomson who died in June 27, 1698, and Robert Thomson her brother who died in May 10, 1693."
The following appears on a large horizontal stone:
When the false alarm about a French invasion under Napoleon was flashed across the country, the Volunteers in the district made Hutton their rallying point and spent a night under arms in the old church—the 1765 structure.
— Rev. Dr. Kirke, Hutton.
"HERE WAS BURIED
TO THOMAS HVME OF TINNINGHAME, BROTHER TO THE FOUNDER OF DVNGLAS, ANNO 1564.
AND NICOLAS KER, DAUGHTER TO GEORGE KER OF THE HOUSE OF SAMILSTON, ANNO 1569.
WITH HENRIE HVME THEIR SON, ANNO 1591 AND BEL TOD HIS WIFE, ANNO 1578.
ROBERT HVME IN HUTTON, THEIR SON, AND ISOBEL DICKSON HIS WIFE, 1618.
AND ROBERT HVME, SON TO HENRIE HVME IN HUTTON, 1678."
On a small stone:
"Remember, man, as thou goest by,
As thou art now, so once was I.
Remember, man, that thou must die."
On a similar stone:
"Here lyes the body of Jen Fliman, who departed this life in the year 1721, aged 18."
On a medium-sized stone:
"Here is interred the Rev. John Orr, Episcopal minister of Hutton Parish.
He was ordained in 1680 and died in 1694."
The imperfect spelling in the following inscription, which appears on a small stone, is evidently due to carelessness on the part of the workman:
"Hear lys the Boy of ... Dodgle, who died 1690, and his wife, 1703."
In the well-kept burial place of the Homes, along with others of that family, are interred the remains of the late:
"David Milne Home, Esq., L.L.D., F.R.S.E., &c. &c., of Milne Graden, eldest son of Admiral Sir David Milne Home, G.C.B.
Born 22 Janr 1805, died 19th Sept. 1890."
At the base of a neat stone are these lines:
"Tossed to and fro no more
On life's tempestuous sea,
His happy soul hath reached
The shore of calm eternity."
On a very large stone:
"Heir was bvried John Boomaker, 1633, and Margarit Cook, his daughter-in-law, Aprile 24, 1668."
In the Hutton Hall aisle—an old burial vault to the west of the church, which appears to date from the 17th century—there is a stone inscribed:
"Sacred to the memory of Catherine Home, wife of Robt. Johnston of Hutton Hall, who died Deer 25th, 1820, and to her grandchild Catherine Hester Scott, who was cut down like a flower of the field, Novr 2nd, 1823, in the 15th year of her age.
'If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.' May 1831."
The bell in Hutton Church bears the following inscription:
"SOLI • DEO • GLORIA • IOHANNES •
BVRGERHVYS • ME • FECIT • 1661."
The above inscription is printed in a single circle on the upper part of the bell, in beautifully clear and well-preserved raised characters. The top portion of the bell above the inscription is decorated with festoon work, while the lower part remains plain.
There was a hospital at Hutton in early times, but the date of its establishment or its founder remains unknown. It was dedicated to the Apostle John. The historical record notes "Robert de Paxton, prior Hospitalis St. Johannis Jerisolm, apud Huton," and William, the guardian of the hospital, both swore fealty to Edward I. in 1296.
No traces of the building are visible today, and its exact site cannot now be localized. However, it is believed to have stood near the modern mansion known as Spittal House. In one of the old Retours, it is referred to as Huttonspittal.
— Mr. Ferguson, Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, 1890; Retours, Berwickshire.
SOURCE: The Churches And Churchyards Of Berwickshire By James Robson 1893, updated 2025 Nathan Zipfel