Church Recording

Church Recording is varied, interesting and fun. It is a valuable resource, not only for the Church, but for art historians and genealogists who rely on accurate information. Recorders are volunteers, detailing and researching and backed by the help of specialist experts. The Borders group have completed seventeen churches and are now starting work at St Paul’s, Branxton in Northumberland.

Case Study

Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity in Melrose was recorded just before the pandemic.

A unique feature of Holy Trinity lies in its windows which are of outstanding quality. There are a total of twenty five windows in the church. Most have some stained glass incorporated into them but ten of them depict religious scenes. What makes this church unique is that we have uncovered the makers/designers of every window. Makers include Kempe of London, Mayer & Co. of Munich and London, James Powell & Son of London and the two Edinburgh firms, William Wilson and Ballantyne. All are first class designers and this collection of windows is unrivalled in the Borders.

However a mystery remains! One window in the Nave com- memorates a John Meiklam of Gladswood and was dedicated in 1882. It is in two sections and shows Christ on the left and a shepherd on the right. At their feet are several sheep, one of which bears a strange mark on its side of a cross within a circle. This image has been sent to three national experts in stained glass imagery but none can explain this mark and why it was put onto a sheep.