About Us > Innerleithen Church

Innerleithen Church is situated on Leithen Road. Adjacent to the Church are two halls, two committee rooms and the Church Office.

At the east end of the High Street, turn left on the B 709 signed to Heriot.  The Church is 200 metres from the junction on the left hand side of the road.

Church History

The Vale of Leithen which nestles between Pirn Craig and Lee Pen has always been the home of the local Parish Church. Its history dates back over many centuries, and records reveal that between 1159 and 1165 King Malcolm the Maiden gave to the Monks of Kelso the Church of Innerleithen with rights of sanctuary, because the body of his drowned Son had rested within the Church on the first night after his decease. Between 1167 and 1214 this grant was confirmed by King William the Lion.

The first Church on record was situated on the lower slopes of Lee Pen. A new Church was built nearer to the village in 1785 on the site of Cobblers Knowe half a mile down stream, which was demolished in 1871.

The present Church was erected in 1869 and has since met the needs of the local parishioners. Over the years groups broke away from the Mother Church, but in recent times the break away groups have reunited to form a family devoted to one cause. History tells many tales, but the Love of God in the end blended together a dedicated community into one Congregation united for the purpose of the Lord's Salvation, saving of the Soul from sin. We are today united in a common cause, and within the unique structure of this Church there is the feeling that God is with us as we pursue that which is righteous.

The Runic Cross was a Celtic cross which was unearthed from the foundations of the previous Church at Cobblers Knowe by Kirklands Farm, and it is believed that it first belonged to the original Church on the lower slopes of Lee Pen. During the local games week a ritual takes place in the grounds of the Church to mark the time in history when the legend tells us that St Ronan "The Town's Patron Saint" cleiked the deil (caught the devil by the leg) with his Crozier and dispelled evil from our midst. The ritual takes place beside the Runic Cross and the deil is later consumed by the flames of a bonfire on Caerlee Hill. The Churches religious past is remembered at this time, and it is a fitting demonstration when the Standard Bearer carries the local Banner into Church bearing the words "Live and Let Live" and "Watch and Præy."

In 1984 the parish was linked with the parishes of Traquair (already united with Kailzie) and Walkerburn. In 2000, the three linked parishes formed a union creating the Parish of Innerleithen, Traquair and Walkerburn.