Sunday Worship
Very Rev Rosie Frew will be leading worship at 9.30am in Bowden Kirk, and 11.00am in Melrose Church. All welcome.
Melrose services are livestreamed, and you can watch on our Facebook page or church website.
Just a reminder that we have induction loops in both buildings. Please switch hearing aids to the T setting, if appropriate.
Recording the weekly service
As you may know the service at Melrose is recorded each week using a smart phone. It then gets broadcast on Facebook and is also available on the church’s website. This recording is valued by people who are unable to make to church because they are ill, working, elsewhere in the world or other reasons why 11am on a Sunday isn’t when they can be in church.
It would be great to have some more people who could help with this task. It’s not complicated to do and full instructions are available. Please let the Office know if this is something you could help with. Thank you
Tea and Coffee
Refreshments are served in the Church Hall after the Melrose service each week, and in the vestry after the Bowden service on the first Sunday of the month. All welcome!
Worship and Fellowship at St John’s
We meet for worship in St John’s Care Home on the second Tuesday of the month at 2.00pm – followed by afternoon tea. You are warmly invited to come along and share this time with the residents.
Bowden Community Cafe
The Bowden Community Cafe meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 11am in Bowden Village Hall. The next Café is on Wednesday 19 August 2026. All very welcome.
Open Door
Come along to our weekly Open Door every Thursday, 10.00am – 12noon, when the hall is open for tea, coffee, company and chat. Over the summer months we will be joined by Melrose volunteers from Cycling Without Age Scotland along with their electric trishaw ‘Trimonty’. CWAS provides free rides in the fresh mobility or disability. Come along and give it a go!
Podcast – ‘Talking Faith’
Rev Philip Blackledge, of Holy Trinity Melrose, and Rev Lesley Penny of St Peter’s Galashiels have a podcast, called “Talking Faith”. Have a listen!https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingFaithPod
https://media.rss.com/talking-faith/feed.xml
Eco Congregation
We collect and recycle stamps and specs and also have collection boxes for batteries and printer cartridges. Many thanks for your support.
Galashiels Foodbank
With the cost-of-living crisis many are seeking help from the local Foodbank. Donations of food can be left at the pickup points in Galashiels at ASDA, M&S, Poundland, and Iceland, as well as the Co-op store in Melrose. Money to buy perishable items can be donated at: https://www.justgiving.com/galashielsfoodbank
Thank you!
Bowden Kirk Flower Rota
The flower rota for 2026 is now on display in Bowden Kirk. It would be helpful if volunteers could add their names to the list. (There are artificial flowers available if desired).
Melrose Church Choir
The choir is taking a much-deserved break from rehearsal in July and August. Choir practices will resume in September.
Messy Church
Our first Messy Church of the new session is on Sunday 13 September, 3.00pm-5.00pmin Melrose Church and Hall. Messy Church is for all ages, though children must be accompanied by an adult. Messy Church is church but in a different way. It’s music, stories, crafts, games, food, indoors, outdoors, fun, sometimes a bit of mess… Come along and see for yourself.
We have a planning meeting on Wednesday 26 August at 7.00pm in Melrose Church Hall. If you are interested in helping or finding out more please come along. Thanks!
890th Anniversary of the Foundation of Melrose Abbey – Holy Mass
A message to Rosie from Father Benedict Iwatt – On behalf of the Parish of Our Lady & St. Andrew, Galashiels, Selkirk and Melrose, I warmly invite you and the members of your congregation to join us for Holy Mass on the occasion of the 890th Anniversary of the Foundation of Melrose Abbey. The Mass will take place on Friday, 21 August 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Melrose Abbey. This significant anniversary commemorates the foundation of Melrose Abbey by the Cistercian Order in 1136 and marks an important milestone in the Christian heritage of the Scottish Borders. We hope this celebration will bring together Christians from across our local churches, together with many members of the wider community, as we give thanks for the enduring witness of the Gospel in this historic place. Please phone (or leave a message) at the Church office on 01896 574124 if you require tickets.
Community intimations
Scottish Country Dance Class
Scottish Country Dance Class in an Afternoon – at Melrose Parish Church Hall 2 – 4 pm every Tuesday until 8th December (except 18th August to 8th September). £3 per session. All welcome – contact Eleanor 07974 745344
Drop-in Café at St John’s
The staff at St John’s Care Home, Melrose, invite you to come along and join their residents for refreshments and home baking every Tuesday, 2pm – 4pm. Dementia friendly, accessible and open to all ages.
Borders Music Festival
The programme is now available for the Borders Music Festival at https://bordersmusicfestival.com being held during September. A number of venues are being used with Melrose Church hosting events on Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th, Tuesday 15th and Friday 18th September. Please pick up a leaflet at the Church or check out events on the website mentioned above.
Borders Cancer Peer Support Group
A welcoming relaxed and informal monthly peer support group for adults who have lived through or are living with cancer. Meet on the last Thursday of every month from 5 – 6.15pm in The Chaplaincy at Borders General Hospital. Free to attend and Refreshments provided.
Old Melrose Walks
The dates of the walks for 2026 are 1st September and 6th October.
Old Melrose has long been known as the ‘probable’ site of one of the most important early monasteries in northern Britain – possibly dating from the 7th century AD – and famously associated with St. Cuthbert as the place where he began his monastic life. Starting at 1.30 p.m from the courtyard of the tearoom on the estate the whole circuit of the walk is 1.5 miles or 2.3 Km and involves some gentle climbing. This guided walk takes us through about 2,000 years of history, entering parts of the estate not normally open to the public.
All are welcome. Adults £5. Children free. Dogs on leads at all times.
All donations go to the Old Melrose & Environs Project for the future excavation of the site.
Use it or Lose it
Gentle Movement Class – Melrose Church Hall – Wednesdays 10:15 – 11:00am, £5. Warm and welcoming, move at your own pace, feel stronger and more balanced. For more information contact Dorthe 07969570109
Zumba Classes with Lenore
Fun Zumba class every Tuesday 10am at Melrose Parish Church Hall or Monday and Wednesday 6:15pm at the Pavilion Cinema. Book your space on 07826 849115
Musical Memories
For people living with Dementia and their partners or carers. Fun, lively sessions of singing in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. In the Blue Room at Langlee Community Centre, Galashiels from 10.30 – 12.00 twice a month. For dates, please contact: Prue Pullen -pruepullen@hotmail.com or phone 07806 619989
Intimations
Please contact Tracey in the Church Office with any information you would like included in the weekly Intimations by 9.00am Thursday morning. Thanks.
Contact Details
Rosie, our minister can be contacted on 01896 822217 or RFrew@churchofscotland.org.uk
The Church office contact details are 01896 574124 or bowden.melrosepc@btinternet.com
Website – https://bowdenandmelrosechurch.org/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BowdenandMelroseParishChurch
