Bowden Church

https://bowdenandmelrosechurch.org/

History of the Bowden Kirk

Bowden Kirk is one of the oldest, most picturesque and interesting of Scottish Parish Churches.  Founded in 1128 A.D. by the monks of Kelso and therefore older than Melrose and Dryburgh abbeys, it has been, for nearly 900 years, a centre of religious life.

The fabric of the church has experienced many changes during the long period of its existence.  The original 1128 portion consists of the west gable and the north wall and was rectangular, without transepts or chancel.  In the 15th century, transepts were added and the church became cruciform.  About 1660, the north transept ceased to be used as part of the church; the lower part became the burial place of the Cavers Carre family - the north transept arch being walled up and a private pew built across it for the family.  The south transept remained until 1794 when the south wall was rebuilt and the church reroofed.  This transept disappeared entirely, the ancient stone vaulted roof was removed and a roof of timber and slate with a flat plaster ceiling was substituted.  In 1644, a burial vault was added to the east end of the church by the 1st Duke of Roxburghe.

The story of the Ingram pipe organ really starts with the major restoration of the church in 1909 although the organ itself was not installed until 1912.  The architect was P. MacGregor Chalmers and the total cost of the restoration works amounted to £1,929.  The chancel was restored leaving a burial vault below.  The Cavers Carre private pew was removed to its present position, which allowed the opening of the transept arch and the inclusion of the retiring room behind, which then formed the present organ and choir gallery.  The solid oak furnishings and fittings, together with the barrel roof were installed.  The walls of the church were heightened to create the present well-proportioned appearance.

Up until 1892, music had consisted mostly of the psalms and paraphrases led by a precentor using a pitch pipe to set the key.  The Church of Scotland General Assembly decided to allow the introduction of the “kist o’ whistles” in 1864 and the first pipe organ to be installed in Scotland post reformation was in Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh in April 1865.  Twenty-seven years later, Bowden Session decided to install a harmonium reed organ and to purchase copies of the authorised hymn book (CH1).  The organ was first used on the 21stJuly 1892.  Services subsequently took the present form with voluntaries, hymns and anthems by the newly formed choir.  The precentor however, was not pleases with the increased workload, given that there was no reciprocal increase in remuneration and resigned.  Thereafter and organist and choirmaster was appointed.