MORDINGTON
Mention is made of the church of Mordington in the year 1275. John de Paxton, who was then parson of the church, was one of the few Scottish ecclesiastics who, at the ecclesiastical council held at Perth in 1275 by order of Pope Gregory X., refused to contribute the tithe of his benefice towards expelling the Saracens from the Holy Land. His successor, Bernard de Lynton, swore fealty to Edward I. on 24th August 1296.
The ancient church of Mordington stood in a field called the Kirk Park, in front of the present mansion house of Mordington. It is said that about the middle of the last century it was intentionally set on fire and completely wrecked. Of that church, there are now no remains, but in the center of the churchyard, near where the old church presumably stood, there is a gloomy old burial vault, which remains largely intact. On one side of the doorway facing eastward is the date 1662, with the initial letters W.M. above a heart transfixed with a dagger. The early proprietors of Mordington were members of the Douglas family, which sufficiently explains the markings—the armorial bearings referred to are, in part, those used by that powerful family. The letters W.M. likely stand for William, Lord Mordington.
Inside the vault, there is little to relieve the dull monotony of the bare walls and rough, uneven, earthen floor, except for one curious stone built into the western gable. On this stone or tablet is represented a figure of our Saviour extended upon the cross, with an inscription in rude characters resembling Hebrew. These characters have puzzled even the most learned antiquaries. At its base stand two grotesque and rudely executed figures whose heads come just below the horizontal crossbeam. These figures are attired in monkish habits; one is surmounted with the fleur-de-lis, and the other with the thistle.
The old churchyard, which has been in disuse for many years, is in the form of an oval plantation surrounded by a stone wall. This wall rises about four feet above the general level of the ground outside and is quite level with the inner surface of the burial ground. Only about a dozen stones remain visible, with fragments of others scattered across the surface. Many stones, some nearly intact, lie level with the ground, while others are almost buried out of sight. The entire site is in a state of considerable dilapidation.
A very small stone bears this inscription:
"Heir lyes William Ross 1683."
Another very small, plain stone reads:
"Here lays the body of George Spevin who died March 22nd day 1745 his age 60 years. Also, here lays the body of Allison Broun wife to George Spevin who died October 28th day 1735 her age 48 years."
A plain stone is inscribed on one side as follows:
"Here Lyes The Body of Peter Brodiy who Died June 25th 1759 aged 47 years."
On the other side, within a neat panel, are these words:
"Here Lyeth The Body of William Brody son to Peter Brody who Died September 22nd day 1752 his age 24 years."
A small, moss-covered, and severely weathered stone reads:
"Heir lyes the body of James Cowen who departed this life August 27th 1733 his age 77 years. And Elizabeth Fish his wife who died on the 8th day of September Anno 1719 aged 56 years."
A church, which succeeded the original one already referred to and preceded the present church, stood in the center of the current burial ground of Mordington parish, near the Duns road, four miles from Berwick. This building served as the parish church until the present church was constructed. There are no traces of this building now, but it is understood to have been a plain and uninteresting structure, erected sometime during the 17th century.
The churchyard presently in use contains nothing remarkable in terms of old inscriptions and nothing earlier than the mid-18th century.
On a large stone erected to the memory of Andrew and William Kit are these words:
"Though in the grave my body lie
And worms do it consume,
I'm waiting for the glorious day
When Christ shall call me home.
Though for a time my dust be low,
Most beautiful I'll be;
My mortal body shall be clothed
With immortality."
The following words appear on a medium-sized stone:
"Here lyeth the body of Jas Hogg... who died the 26th of Janry 1797, aged 67 years."
A large horizontal stone, dated 1775, bears these lines:
"He was healthful
And his conscience clear.
His heart was honest,
To his friends sincere.
Death ne'er did awe him,
For he wished to die.
In silent peace,
Here let his ashes lie."
The present little church of Mordington is quite modern, having been erected about 25 years ago. It occupies a delightful situation midway between the old churchyard and the one presently in use, about a quarter of a mile from each. Standing on a high ridge, it commands an extensive view of a far-reaching and beautiful landscape. It is in the Gothic style and cruciform in shape. The interior is neat, well-lit, lofty, and exceedingly comfortable.
SOURCE: The Churches And Churchyards Of Berwickshire By James Robson 1893, updated 2025 Nathan Zipfel