Duns
No existing records provide any information regarding the date of the original church of Duns. It is certain, however, that a church existed here in early times, likely around the middle of the twelfth century. Beyond this, little is known.
Mention of the church is made in the year 1296, when Henry de Lematon, rector of Duns, took the oath of allegiance to Edward I at Berwick.
During the reign of David II (1329–1370), Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, annexed the church of Duns to the collegiate church of Dunbar as one of its prebends when he founded it.*
It is probable that the old church was repaired in 1572, as this date was carved in front of the burgess loft in the old building. However, no trace of the original structure remains, as the last of it was removed in 1874.
After the Reformation, the chancel of the church appears to have been converted into a burial aisle by the Wedderburn family. At the same time, the north and south transepts were appropriated for similar purposes by the proprietors of Duns Castle and Manderston, respectively. These two transepts, along with the nave, were repaired and adapted for Presbyterian worship but were entirely demolished during the renovations of 1790. The Wedderburn aisle remained intact until 1874, when, at the minister's suggestion, it was removed during improvements to the churchyard.
In 1736, while excavating a grave within the church, a stone coffin was found and later moved to the manse, where it was used for many years as a watering trough. This coffin was eventually destroyed by the minister around 1830. Such treatment of the parish's antiquities, particularly by those expected to take an interest in their preservation, reflects the neglect of historical artifacts.*
About three miles northwest of Duns, near the farmstead of Chapel, stood a chapel dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene.† The last remains of this chapel were excavated and removed in 1808. The structure was rectangular and exceedingly plain, with no notable architectural features. A graveyard surrounded the chapel, and numerous old tombstones were scattered across it. These, too, have since disappeared.
In the Papal Taxation Roll of Churches and Monasteries in Scotland, compiled during the early reign of Edward I, mention is made of a hospital called "Bona Hospitalis de Duns," valued at 68 marks. Nothing further is known about its site or history. The chapel described above might have been connected to it, though this is purely conjectural. The fact that St. Mary Magdalene, the chapel's dedicatee, was the patron saint of many hospitals in Scotland lends some credibility to this theory.*
In the churchyard, on the site of the chancel of the old church, is the private burial ground of the Homes of Wedderburn. The first member of that family was buried here in 1470. In the year 1608, an aisle was erected on the site. The lintel of its front entrance bears the inscription:
"Death cannot sinder S. G. H. D. I. H. 1608."
(These initials signify: Sir George Home, Dame Isabell Home.)
A plaque further notes:
"Home of Wedderburn Burying Ground. Formerly covered by a vault. The old stones, here preserved, were over the entrance door, having been erected by Sir George Home in 1608. Repaired MDCCLXXXVIII."
A small, peculiarly shaped stone with a death's head in the center is inscribed:
"Here lyes the Race of Ancrum. William Ancrum, merchant, Duns, died 1691. Memento mori."
Another small stone carries these poignant lines:
"Here lies the only comfort of my life,
The best of husbands to a wife.
Great was my loss for his eternal gain,
And hope in Christ that we shall meet again."
In the following epitaph, there is both sound logic and good Gospel truth:
"Beneath this stone three infants lie,
Say, are they lost or saved?
If death’s by sin, they sinned, for they are here;
If heaven’s by works, in heaven they can’t appear.
Revere the sacred page, the knot’s untied —
They died, for Adam sinned; they live, for Jesus died."
The present church is a handsome modern structure with an elegant tower. An inscription on the front reads:
"Erected 1790. Destroyed by fire 1879. Restored 1880."
The following is a list of the ministers of Duns since 1568:
John Young: 1568 to 1569
James Bennet: 1581 to 1582
Patrick Gaittis: 1582 to 1584 (after a suspension, continued to 1611)
James Gaittis: 1607 to 1608
John Weemse, M.A.: 1613 to 1636
Andrew Rollo, M.A.: 1637 to 1649
Andrew Fairfull, M.A.: 1652 to 1661
Andrew Collace, M.A.: 1663 to 1664
William Gray: 1666 to 1689
Alexander Golden, M.A.: 1693 to 1700
Laurence Johnstone, M.A.: 1703 to 1736
Roger Moodie, M.A.: 1739 to 1748
Adam Dickson, M.A.: 1750 to 1769
Robert Bowmaker: 1769 to 1797
George Cunningham: 1797 to 1847
Henry Scott Riddell: 1843 to 1862
John Macleod: 1862 to 1875
Robert Stewart, D.D.: 1875 to 1877
William Menzies: 1878 to 1881
William David Herald, M.A.: 1882
Churches in Duns
The Free Church here was built in 1838 as a quoad sacra church. The building is Gothic in style with a solid square tower. The current minister is John Miller, M.A., who was settled in 1868.
The South United Presbyterian Church was built in 1851 on the site of an older church erected in 1752. It is Gothic in style but exceedingly plain. The current minister is James Eason, M.A., who was settled in 1895.
The East United Presbyterian Church is a plain square structure of the meeting-house type, with seating for about 500 people. The congregation (Anti-Burgher) was founded in 1743. The current minister is Alexander John Blair Paterson, M.A., who was settled as a colleague and successor to Rev. Dr. Ritchie in 1891.
Christ Church (Scotch Episcopal) is a neat edifice in the Norman style. In 1852, the Episcopal form of worship was resumed in the town. Two years later, Christ Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Edinburgh. The current rector is James Beale, who was settled in 1878.
SOURCE: The Churches And Churchyards Of Berwickshire By James Robson 1893, updated 2025 Nathan Zipfel