Talk:Selkirkshire Towns and Villages S

From the Family Tree Forum Reference Library

Selkirk


The ruins of Selkirk Auld Parish Church are the remains of the last church on the site. Construction started in 1747 after a decision to demolish the previous larger building which had fell into disrepair, within the year the old building had been demolished and the new one constructed. The bell (visible above the gates) was fitted in 1848 and was originally found at the tollhouse.
By the 1850's the building had been repaired so many times it was decided to build an entirely new building on another site, by 1861 the old building was vacated and the roof removed leaving the building much as it appears today.
Internally there are traces of the former buildings, stones from the mid 16th century can be seen built into the walls, after entering the building there is an aisle to the left called the Murray Aisle where the ancestors of American President Franklin D Roosevelt are commemerated.

St John's Episcopal Church on Bleachfield Rd dates to the late 1860's. Assorted references in the Scottish Architects Directory show several names across the years of 1867 to 1869, an element of additional architects executing construction to the original design seems the likely reason. Internally the building saw additions between 1908 and the start of WWI with reredos, altar and choir screen, additional carving and other work to the doorway taking place in the 1930's.

Selkirk Parish Church (previously known as the East United Presbyterian church) opened in 1880, capacity of around 850 nearly double that of the West UP Church building. The Early Gothic style building complete with five stage tower and spire stands around 130 feet high on one of the main routes through the town.


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