Christianity came early to the south-east of Scotland with the coming of St. Cuthbert and St Kentigern. In time great abbeys and priories were built bringing with them churches and chapels, throughout the hills. All the Christian foundations suffered by destruction or were subdued for centuries at the hands of invading English armies but always recovered, always rebuilt in the aftermath of the violence. Finally, at he coming of the Scottish Reformation in 1560, the abbeys closed but the parish churches continued in the new faith. Many have fallen in to ruin making way for new churches but so many of the ancient ruins remain. It is to them we turn our attention, learn of their roots and the men who preached to the local people, the local lords and their benevolence to the mother churches to which their own parish was affiliated. Let us find out more of those medieval times in the region of southern Scotland known as the Scottish Borders.
