Preston Church
The ruins of Preston Church and its old burial ground occupy an elevated position on the left bank of the Whitadder, approximately one and a half miles from Bunkle. The surviving ruins, which date to before the Reformation, give a clear impression of the church’s form and dimensions. Like many early churches, it was long and narrow, the length about three times its width.
The chancel, measuring 18 feet 6 inches by 14 feet 6 inches internally, is better preserved than the nave, though heavily overgrown with ivy. Notable features include obtusely-pointed windows in the east gable and a piscina in the south wall—the latter being a rare example of such a feature still in situ in Berwickshire.
The adjacent churchyard is still used for burials by parishioners in the southern part of the district.
An old weather-worn stone, adorned with some exquisite carved work, bears the date 1672, featuring a death's head, crossbones, and other similar motifs.
A small, very plain stone is inscribed as follows:
"Here lyes the body of Jeams Cowen, died 27 January 1711, his age 67 years."
On a neat, slate-colored stone erected in memory of a husband and wife, these lines are engraved:
"Cease then, frail nature, to lament in vain,
Reason forbids to wish them back again;
Rather congratulate their happy fate,
And their advancement to a glorious state."
The old communion tokens, struck in 1790, are still preserved and exist in three different types:
Square tokens, inscribed on one side:
"Buncle & Preston"
On the other side:
"Mr. R. D. 1790"
These initials refer to Robert Douglas, minister (see the list of ministers).
Round tokens, inscribed:
"B v
P K"
The reverse side is plain.
Another round type, inscribed:
"B P"
Ministers of Bunkle (1582–1880)
Here is a list of ministers who have served in Bunkle parish:
William Sinclair — 1582 to 1599
George Reidpath, M.A. — 1599 to 1607
Matthew Carrail — 1607 to 1612
John Gaittis — 1614 to 1640
Note: Gaittis, while at the castle of Dunglass with a party of soldiers stationed to monitor the garrison at Berwick under the command of Thomas, Earl of Haddington, perished on August 30, 1640, when the powder magazine was fired by an incendiary and exploded. The explosion killed the commander, Mr. Gaittis, and about sixty-six others, while thirty-three were wounded. — Scott's Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae
Robert Golden, M.A. — 1650 to 1664
George Trotter, M.A. — 1665 to 1677
Alexander Nicolson, M.A. — 1678 to 1689
Alexander Golden, M.A. — 1690 to 1693
Ninian Home, M.A. — 1696 to 1704
Walter Hart, M.A. — 1706 to 1761
Robert Douglas — 1765 to 1801
John Campbell — 1802 to 1818
Archibald M'Conechy — 1819 to 1843
Note: M'Conechy, upon joining the Free Secession and signing the Deed of Demission, was declared no longer a minister of this church on June 20, 1843. — Scott's Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae
John Dunlop — 1843 to 1880
Ludovic Mair (present incumbent) — 1880
Ministers of Preston
William Sinclair — 1590 to 1616
M'Conechy, upon joining the Free Secession and signing the Deed of Demission, was declared no longer a minister of this church on the 20th of June, 1843. — Scott's Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae.
SOURCE: The Churches And Churchyards Of Berwickshire By James Robson 1893, updated 2025 Nathan Zipfel