CHANNELKIRK
The name was written in the parish records in 1650 as Chingalkirk.
A church existed here during the time of David I (1124–1153). By a grant of that king, Hugh Morville became the proprietor of the district and the advowson of the ancient church. Subsequently, Morville, out of gratitude to his royal benefactor as well as from motives of piety, gifted the church to the canons of Dryburgh. This gift was confirmed by his son, Richard Morville, after Hugh’s death in 1162, and was approved by Malcolm IV (1153–1165). The church remained under the possession of the canons of Dryburgh until the Reformation. It was dedicated to St. Cuthbert, who once lived in this area. According to the story of his life, as a boy, St. Cuthbert lived here "under the care of a certain religious man" while his mother was on a pilgrimage to Rome. The anonymous Life of St. Cuthbert also mentions that "he was watching over the flocks of his master near the river Leader," and it was here he experienced the vision that led him to devote his life to religion. He then became a monk in the monastery of Melrose.
The original church was cruciform in shape. In 1627, the building was in a partially ruinous condition. According to an official report from that year, "the quir was without ane roofe, to the great scandall off the gospell and prejudice of the parishiners." In 1702, it underwent extensive alterations and repairs, and in 1817, the old walls were taken down, and the present building was erected in its place.
From an official report of 1627, we learn more about the state of the church and parish at that time:
Parish of Chingilkirk
"For the church of Chingilkirk, quhilk holdis of Drybrughe.
Thair hes nott beine as yitt a manse for a minister by reasone of the none residence of my predecessours, so that I am very ewill vsit.
I have no sowmes grasse nor muire to cast elding and diffott into, to my great hurt and skaith, notwithstanding thair is muche kirkland in my parochine, as Over Howdeu, Nether Howden, twa husband landis in Huxtoune, and my Lady Ormeistoune's kirklandis besyde the kirk, and the Hillhouse, quhilk perteines to the Laird of Herdmeistoune.
It is shame to sie the queir so long without ane roofe, neither can the parochiners gett halfe rowme in the kirk.
The quir is without ane roofe, to the great scandall of the gospell and prejuduce of the parishiners that cannot get rowme in the kirk, the quir being doune.
It is not fewd land, but being viccars land of old, arid now withholden from the ministery at that kirk, hinders satling, and maid all my predeces-souris non-residentis; neither can I get grasse to two kye, to my great greiffe and skaith, quhilk I hope shall now be gratiouslie amendid, to the perpetuall satling of a ministry at that kirk."
CHANNELKIRK
The name was written in the parish records in 1650 as Chingalkirk.
A church existed here during the time of David I (1124–1153). By a grant from that king, Hugh Morville became the proprietor of the district and the advowson of the ancient church. Subsequently, Morville, out of gratitude to his royal benefactor and motives of piety, gifted the church to the canons of Dryburgh. This gift was confirmed by his son, Richard Morville, after Hugh’s death in 1162, and was approved by Malcolm IV (1153–1165). The church remained under the possession of the canons of Dryburgh until the Reformation. It was dedicated to St. Cuthbert, who once lived in this area. According to the story of his life, as a boy, St. Cuthbert lived here "under the care of a certain religious man" while his mother was on a pilgrimage to Rome. The Life of St. Cuthbert also mentions that "he was watching over the flocks of his master near the river Leader," where he experienced the vision that led him to devote his life to religion. He then became a monk in the monastery of Melrose.
The original church was cruciform in shape. By 1627, the building was in a partially ruinous condition. According to an official report from that year:
"The quir was without ane roofe, to the great scandall off the gospell and prejudice of the parishiners."
In 1702, it underwent extensive alterations and repairs. In 1817, the old walls were taken down, and the present building was erected.
From the same official report of 1627, more details about the state of the church and parish were recorded:
Parish of Chingilkirk
"For the church of Chingilkirk, quhilk holdis of Drybrughe:
Thair hes nott beine as yitt a manse for a minister by reasone of the none residence of my predecessours, so that I am very ewill vsit.
I have no sowmes grasse nor muire to cast elding and diffott into, to my great hurt and skaith, notwithstanding thair is muche kirkland in my parochine, as Over Howdeu, Nether Howden, twa husband landis in Huxtoune, and my Lady Ormeistoune's kirklandis besyde the kirk, and the Hillhouse, quhilk perteines to the Laird of Herdmeistoune.
It is shame to sie the queir so long without ane roofe, neither can the parochiners gett halfe rowme in the kirk.
The quir is without ane roofe, to the great scandall of the gospell and prejuduce of the parishiners that cannot get rowme in the kirk, the quir being doune.
It is not fewd land, but being viccars land of old, arid now withholden from the ministry at that kirk, hinders satling, and maid all my predeces-souris non-residentis; neither can I get grasse to two kye, to my great greiffe and skaith, quhilk I hope shall now be gratiouslie amendid, to the perpetuall satling of a ministry at that kirk."
The church occupies a commanding position and, along with the hamlet of Channelkirk, is said to stand within the area of an old Roman camp. The building, except for its crow-stepped gables and projecting cornice below, is severely plain. However, the interior is exceedingly comfortable, having been recently renovated.
The churchyard surrounding the church contains a few interesting stones.
A peculiarly shaped stone, featuring several rudely carved, grotesque human figures, is inscribed:
"Heir lieth Marion Brock, daughter to William Brock Gardinr in Wxton [?], who deperted the 29 of Aprile 1721 and of hir age 19 years."
Below this are rudely carved the symbols of a rake, spade, and crossbones.
On a very small stone are these words:
"Here lyes my bones
Now fred from groanes
Waiting the spring.
My saul's above
With Christ in love
And there doth ring."
On the reverse side of this stone is written:
"Here lyes John Dewar, husband to Elspeth Stevart, who departed this life the 24 of March 1685, being the 65 year of hir age."
A large horizontal stone bears the following inscription along its bevelled edges:
"Omnem diem tibi defluxisse supremum."
And on the flat upper surface:
"Here lyes the body of William Wigrt, tenant in Glengelt, who died Apr 16, 1682."
In early times, there were two chapels in this parish subordinate to the church of Channelkirk—one at Glengelt and the other at Confrae.
Concerning the chapel of Glengelt, it is stated that Henry de Murdeville, who held the lands of Glengelt during the reign of William the Lion (1165–1214), granted to the canons of Dryburgh an indemnity ensuring that the chapel of Glengelt would not injuriously affect the mother church of "Childin-kirk."
Of the chapel at Confrae, it is recorded that in the thirteenth century, John de St. Clair, who owned the lands of Carfrae, similarly granted an indemnity to the canons of Dryburgh to protect the mother church of Childinkirk.
Neither chapel has left any visible remains.
A quarter of a mile to the west is a perennial spring of excellent water called the Well of the Holy Water Cleugh, a name bestowed by ancient superstition.
A road called the Girthgate, passing through the western boundary of the parish, was used by monks traveling between Melrose and Edinburgh. It is a broad green path on which, it is said, the surrounding heath never grows. Along this road, a few miles west of the church, were ruins known as Rest Law or Restlaw Haw. Tradition holds that monks and pilgrims stopped here for refreshment, as it was halfway between Melrose and Edinburgh.
List of Ministers at Channelkirk Since 1611
John Gibsoun, reader—1576
Allan Lundie, M.A.—1611 to 1614
Francis Collace, M.A.—1615 to 1625
Henry Cockburn, M.A.—1625 to 1650
David Liddell, M.A.—1654 to 1662
Henry Cockburn, M.A. (reinstated)—1662 to 1663
Walter Keyth, M.A.—1663 to 1682
William Arrott, M.A.—1683 to 1696
Henry Home, M.A.—1702 to 1751
David Scott—1752 to 1792
Thomas Murray—1793 to 1808
John Brown—1809 to 1828
James Rutherford—1828 to 1862
James Walker—1862 to 1884
Joseph Lowe—1885 to 1891
Archibald Allan, M.A. (present incumbent)—1892
SOURCE: The Churches And Churchyards Of Berwickshire By James Robson 1893, updated 2025 Nathan Zipfel