St Francis of Assisi Church Byrness

St Francis of Assisi Church in Byrness, the last village on the A68 before Scotland.

The village is small original being just a few farms and the church before a forestry village was built in the 1950s. Byrness gets its name from a modern spelling of Berrenes, Birriniss and Buryness. It means "a place of burial".

The cemetery outdates the church as people were buried here in the 18th century instead of travelling to Elsdon. One of the oldest graves dated 1687. The church was built in 1786 and the chancel was rebuilt in 1884.

The Revd L Dutens was largely responsible for the work and paying for it. It was built as a chapel-of-ease before becoming separate parish. In 1940 it united with Horsley and lost its parish status.

Inside though, is a real gem. Between 1884 and 1905, the congregation grew with the building of Catcleugh Reservoir just down the road. The workers lived in wooden huts in a temporary village but used the church for weddings, christening and funerals which is recorded in the census of the time.

64 people died during construction although only 3 were because of a work related accident. Some are buried in the cemetery. In 1903 the workers paid for a memorial window to be put in the church. It is significant as one of the few windows in a church that doesn't show a scene of religion.

It also contains a narrow gauge railway. Next to it is a plaque with the names on of those who died but 5 are missing as they died after the plaque was made.

In the cemetery near the church is the grave of young George Carr. He died when he fell between a moving train during the reservoir construction. His grave marker was paid for by his fellow school children and teacher.

The church is open daily with a guide book available as well as a few information boards. There is parking outside the church with footpaths including the Pennine Way.