| Where: | Yarrow, Borders at St Mary's Kirk of the Lowes Ruin on North side of St Mary's Loch near Cappercleuch, signposted off A708 |
| When: | 4th Sunday in July |
| Time: | 3pm |
In the seventeenth century Yarrow was the scene of religious dissent; presbyterian Covenanter preachers and their followers were forbidden to attend church services so were forced to worship outdoors, often huddling in blankets for protection from the elements. The annual open-air service in the churchyard near Yarrow commemorates this period in history, though as it’s in summer blankets aren’t usually necessary! It’s a very welcoming crowd, mostly of fairly local people but with a good scattering of those from further afield.
Helpful Hints
St Mary’s Kirk is ruined and is situated high above the north side of St Mary’s Loch. There is no vehicular access and the climb is very steep – allow maybe 15 minutes to walk up from the road (10 for the walk and another 5 at least to get your breath back!). The route is unsuitable for wheelchairs and anyone with mobility issues. Please note that there is also a church at Yarrow village with the exact same name some 7 miles east – the ruined Kirk is near Cappercleuch so make sure you get the right place. The service is signposted on the day off the A708.
Many sources state that this is held on the last Sunday in July but in fact it’s not quite that simple as it’s actually on the 4th Sunday of the month. This is often the same day but in years where the first Sunday falls on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd of the month, there are actually 5 Sundays in July and if you went on the last one you’d be a week too late. Visit the church website below and double check their calendar before setting off!
In 2025 it should be on Sunday July 27th (the 4th and also the last Sunday of the month!). The service lasts around half-an-hour and includes acapella singing of well-known hymns.
Click here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ettrickyarrowchurch/
We turned up for the blanket service at St Mary’s Kirk on Sunday (29th) as advertised on this site and on the St Mary’s Loch website to find that we were alone and that someone had left a program dated Sunday 22nd July wedged in a fencepost. Needless to say, we were a bit disappointed but also wondered how other people had found out about the change of date – perhaps they were all locals, unlike ourselves who had driven from the Dalkeith area for the service.
Sorry to hear about this, Tom – it’s a real problem getting the right information when things have been altered. I’ll do my best to try and find a contact who actually has a direct connection with the organisation of the event in time for next year, though obviously that’s too late for this time. It’s one of those events that it’s difficult to find out about – otherwise I guess you’d have double checked with them yourself before setting off. I’ll amend my article to reflect what you’ve told me then hopefully I’ll get it right for future years.
Best Wishes,
Averil
Dear Tom,
I’ve been researching the Yarrow Blanket Preaching further and I believe that the date is actually the 4th Sunday in the month rather than the last, even though it’s very widely reported as being the last in the media. This is often the same day but in years where the first Sunday falls on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd of the month, there are actually 5 Sundays in July (as in 2012) which would explain why it was held a week earlier than we expected. I’ll confirm the formula on the site when I hear back from the Minister. I know it won’t fix your disappointment from this year but at least we’ll know when it happens in future!
Best wishes,
Averil
Hi Averill… I went to this and missed it, partly my own fault – not having internet access when on the road, and just noting down that it is at St Mary’s Kirk of the Lowes at Yarrow, as you say. This is misleading because there is the same-named 19th Century church and its churchyard in the hamlet of Yarrow 7 miles to the east, which is not the place at all (and there it would have been helpful if the church notice board gave directions to the true site, which again I recommended to the organisers when I caught up with them at the event was finishing at Cappercleuch village hall for the tea). It is really at Cappercleuch, on the north side of St Mary’s Loch, at something like OS map sheet 73 – NT237247 (and apart from being in the very long 15 miles Yarrow valley, nothing to do with Yarrow). Also sparsely populated, and if populated, then by English people who haven’t a clue. Also ignore the ‘church’ symbol at Cappercleuch which represents a C19 church now a private residence and nothing to the do with the site. I advise southerners and the occasional visitors to take the M6 to Moffatt, and not the A7 to Selkirk as I did, and look out for the organisers’ sign board which they put only on the A708, for parking. Tim.
Thanks Tim- we went a few years ago and found the site on a map before we went- I’ll certainly add some more to Helpful Hints to assist anyone else trying to find it.
Best wishes,
Averil
It’s very kind of you to reply to my sulky comment. What I should have stressed was how much I appreciate this site and all you do in compiling the info – always appreciated. It was just one of those nasty fated mix ups, and – fancy! – a religious service only being half an hour long! If any longer I would have got up for the end of the service. Best wishes Tim.
No problem Tim- I’m always happy to add useful info to the site to get people to the right place at the right time! And you’re right- any other service you’d have got there about halfway through and wouldn’t have missed it…Never mind there’s always next year 🙂
Best wishes,
Averil