FISHWICK, prior to the year 1614, had a separate parochial existence. The church of Fishwick is very ancient. In 1150, Robert, the Bishop of St. Andrews, in the presence of the synod which then sat at Berwick, confirmed to the monks of Coldingham the church of "Fishwic." This grant was reaffirmed by Robert III (1390–1406). The advowson of the church remained in the possession of the monks of Coldingham until the Reformation.
As previously mentioned, Fishwick was annexed to Hutton in 1614.
The ruins of the ancient church, beautifully situated on the west bank of the river Tweed, nearly opposite the village of Horncliff, were removed around 1835. A mortuary chapel was erected on the site by the proprietor of Broadmeadows. According to a brief description in the New Statistical Account of the parish, the church appeared to have been "a very plain building, long and narrow, and of small dimensions."
The churchyard of Fishwick is now disused and in a neglected, dilapidated condition. The gravestones lie in great disarray, and the ground is overgrown with nettles and long grass.
On a very large horizontal stone, the following defaced inscription can be made out:
"Here lyes the corps of William Lyle who die 1711 and Helen Boumeker (?) his spous who Diod 1702 . . ."
On a similar stone:
"Heir was bvried Georg Maben 1612 and William Maben his sonne departed first of September 1666."
On a very small stone:
"I • C • 1642
M • S • 164-."
Another large horizontal stone bears:
"Heir was bvried Christian Lyle anno 1648 and John Hutcheson her husband 1661."
On a similar stone:
"I P
E R 1054."
A nearly illegible inscription on another horizontal stone reads:
"158 . . .
IIS
G I
H I."
Another horizontal stone reads:
"Heir • lyes • William • Wilson • 1656 • and • Robert • Wilson • his • sone • 1677 • and • Margie • Blekiter • his • wife • 1675 •
Here • lies • William • who • deceased • the •" (a break occurs here).
"And • Allison • King • his • spous • who • deceased • the •" (another break occurs here).
The following inscription, on a beautifully ornamental horizontal stone, states:
"Heir lyes the body of John Wilson who died 1690 and Helen Aird his spous who died 1699 and John Wilson Grandchild who died 1716."
Another horizontal stone, with grotesque and rudely executed carvings, bears:
"Heir was bvried John Hogard who died Anno 1640."
The spelling in this inscription is amusing:
"Here lays the boody of Beatrich Grac spows to Peeter . . . who departed this lyfe Novembr the 2 1705."
On a very small stone:
"Mary Brovn 1647."
Another stone with elaborate carvings reads:
"Here lyes John Bald who died 1679."
Ministers of Hutton Since 1571
John Clapperton – 1571 to 1576
John Home – 1578 to 1585
William Methwen – 1585 to 1586
Archibald Oswald, M.A. – 1586 to 1594
Thomas Storie – 1596 to 1597
Alexander Lumisdene, M.A. – 1599 to 1607
Thomas Ogiluy – 1607 to 1608
John Weemse, M.A. – 1608 to 1613
Allan Lundie, M.A. – 1614 to 1636
James Lundie – 1636 to 1649
Patrick Hume – 1649 to 1679
James Orr – 1680 to . . .
Gilbert Lawrie, M.A. – 1693 to 1727
Robert Waugh* – 1730 to 1756
Philip Ridpath – 1759 to 1788
Adam Landels – 1789 to 1821
John Edgar, M.A. – 1821 to 1858
Robert Kirke, D.D. (present incumbent) – 1858
Note: There was significant opposition to the ordination of Robert Waugh. The service had to be conducted under the protection of the sheriff and over 100 military personnel, as the church doors had been barricaded (Scott's Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae).
SOURCE: The Churches And Churchyards Of Berwickshire By James Robson 1893, updated 2025 Nathan Zipfel