Bowden Kirk
This church and its predecessors have stood here for over 850 years.
The layout of the church shows that its origins lie in pre-Reformation, lying as it does east to west with a long nave and transepts. The oldest part of the church is the north wall with the pointed arch leading into the organ loft. This part is 15th century with most of the rest being the result of rebuilding in the 17th, 18th and 20th centuries. The pipe organ, in its loft, was fitted in 1912, cost £400, and is still in use today.
The Laird's loft bears the initials S.T.K and D.G.H for Sir Thomas Ker and Dame Grisell Halkett, whose Coat of Arms is in the centre of the painted decoration.
Underneath is the verse:
"Behold the axe lyes at the trees' root
To hew down these that brings not forth good fruit
And when they'r cut the Lord in his ire
Will them destroy and cast into fire."
The church is very unusual in that it has four external staircases and eight doors. There was an external stair and door which gave access to the Roxburghe Loft, another gives access to the West Gallery, one to the Loft of the Riddell-Carre family, who are the present occupants of Cavers-Carre, and others to the vaults which are still in use.
The Bell, in the west belfry, is a new one cast for the Millennium. It replaced the oldest bell which was cast in Edinburgh in 1690 by John Meikel. This bell is now inside the church. It bears the Inscription:
"SOLI DEO GLORIA JOHN MEIKEL ME FECIT EDINBURGHII ANNO 1690"
A third bell, from 1924, hangs at the corner of the vestry and the chancel. It is still in use.