West Tweeddale Parish Churches are a linkage of six Church of Scotland congregations in the north-west of the Scottish Borders.
Linkage means that our churches share a minister and collaborate on many activities, but each church can pursue its own goals in response to the needs and wishes of its local community.
We are churches of people, not buildings. In addition to church services, we organise a range of events to attract and interest people irrespective of what they believe, or do not believe. We welcome everyone to any and all of our events and hope we may see you at some of these soon.
These pages will tell you a lot more about us and what we do, but if you cannot find the answers you're looking for, please contact us.
Forthcoming Events: (click on the heading to view more information if available)
This year's Blue Christmas Service is in St. Andrew's Church, West Linton - Monday 9th December at 7pm.
Come out, and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge that God’s presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.
Are you interested in learning to sing Psalms in Gaelic? Rob MacNeacail leads a session in Carlops Church on a Tuesday evening from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. No prior knowledge of Gaelic is needed as the lyrics are learned phonetically. You can email Rob at or just drop by one of the sessions.
An "In person" Advent Study will be held at the Manse in West Linton for four weeks starting on the 26th November at 7:30pm. The study will explore the book Advent for Everyone - a journey through Luke by Tom Wright
The study will be led by Yvonne Foley and everyone is welcome. The book is available from Amazon including Kindle format or from St. Andrew's Bookshop as well as other booksellers.
An "In person" Advent Study will be held in the Meeting Room in Broughton Village Hall for three weeks starting on the 3rd December at 10:30am. The study will explore the book Advent for Everyone - a journey through Luke by Tom Wright and will
The study will be led by worship leaders from Upper Tweeddale and everyone is welcome. The book is available from Amazon including Kindle format or from St. Andrew's Bookshop as well as other booksellers.
Every Thursday afternoon, Carlops Church from 2pm until 4pm houses an informal tea and chat session. No need to book; come at any time; stay as long as you like; enjoy the company of friends and neighbours.
An online Advent Study (via Zoom) will be held for four weeks starting on Thursday the 21st November. The study will explore the book Advent for Everyone - a journey with the Apostles by Tom Wright. Don’t worry if you missed earlier meetings. Do come along.
The study will be led by Kevin Scott and Steven Whalley and everyone is welcome to join in. The book is available from Amazon including Kindle format or from St. Andrew's Bookshop as well as other booksellers.
If you have logged in then you can access the Zoom link by clicking on the heading above. Alternatively contact Kevin Scott or Steven Whalley.
For one day each month the Skirling Community hosts lunch in the
Skirling Village Hall. Anyone is welcome to come along. This is held on
the second Thursday of every month at 12:00.
Our hours are 2pm to 4pm on Fridays, at the Old Church Hall in West Linton. Come
along for a chat, cuppa, company and cake! Everyone very welcome,
although under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult. Free of
charge although donations welcome but not expected. More
information from Kate Whalley.
The Open Gate
counselling service is provided in Newlands Centre, Romanno Bridge on Friday afternoons for
face-to-face appointments. Appointments can be arranged by phoning or texting 07535 898 244
Use
it for yourself or suggest it to friends. Everyone has some sort of
problem in their life that could be helped in a relaxed and pleasant
way. Sessions remain free and confidential and the client decides when
their problem has been helped – often after only 1 session. Some
problems can’t be changed eg death of a loved one, physical impairment
etc, but folk can be helped to cope more happily with these issues.
Baby brunch is held in West Linton every Friday in the Old Church Hall on the Lower Green during school term time. This is for parents, grandparents, carers or childminders with babies and/or young toddlers.
Messy Church will be held in the New Church Hall, West Linton from
4-6pm. All children from babies to P7 are most welcome to come and join
in the fun! Today's theme is "a Messy Christmas". Please do consider joining us for an afternoon of fun activities and a family meal together. And please download and circulate this poster to spread the word.
Gift Services will be held in each of the churches in Upper Tweeddale, Newlands Church and St. Andrew's, West Linton on Sunday 15th December: a chance to gift something to those who have little at Christmas.
For Upper Tweeddale gifts for
all ages welcome, unwrapped please, separate wrapping paper is a bonus.
The parish of Upper Tweeddale supports two charities with gifts. Warm
clothing and gifts for older children will go to Edinburgh Old Kirk and
Muirhouse for distribution to those in need in the parish. Gift vouchers are
particularly appreciated by young people supported by the Borders Young Carers Trust and enables young carers to choose their own gift.
For Newlands and St. Andrew's, West Linton, gifts for children from newborns to 18 year olds will be
distributed in the Borders via the Salvation Army.
New gifts should be brought to the service unwrapped
(wrapping paper is appreciated). St. Andrew's will also be open for donations on Saturday 14th December from 10am to 12 noon.
Services will be held in Broughton Church at 11.00am, Newlands Church at 10am, Skirling Church at 11.30am, Tweedsmuir Church at 9.30am and St. Andrew's, West Linton at 11.30am.
On the third Monday of each month at 2pm the Broughton
prayer group will meet to focus on the future of Broughton Church. The
next meeting two meetings will be in the small meeting room at Broughton Village Hall on Monday 21st October and Monday 16th December and will last about one hour.
Are you interested in learning to sing Psalms in Gaelic? Rob MacNeacail leads a session in Carlops Church on a Tuesday evening from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. No prior knowledge of Gaelic is needed as the lyrics are learned phonetically. You can email Rob at or just drop by one of the sessions.
An "In person" Advent Study will be held at the Manse in West Linton for four weeks starting on the 26th November at 7:30pm. The study will explore the book Advent for Everyone - a journey through Luke by Tom Wright
The study will be led by Yvonne Foley and everyone is welcome. The book is available from Amazon including Kindle format or from St. Andrew's Bookshop as well as other booksellers.
An "In person" Advent Study will be held in the Meeting Room in Broughton Village Hall for three weeks starting on the 3rd December at 10:30am. The study will explore the book Advent for Everyone - a journey through Luke by Tom Wright and will
The study will be led by worship leaders from Upper Tweeddale and everyone is welcome. The book is available from Amazon including Kindle format or from St. Andrew's Bookshop as well as other booksellers.
All are welcome to the Garvald School Nativity Play at St. Andrews Church, West Linton on Wednesday 18th December at 7pm
The Garvald shepherds play is one of 3 "mystery" plays that date back to the middle ages where they were performed every year on a small island on the Danube called Oberufer.
The plays were discovered and translated in the 1840s by a gentleman named Karl Julius Schroer a friend and teacher of Rudolf Steiner.
Click on the church names or church symbols to go to the pages for those churches