Borders Centre of Mission

Hawick, Selkirk and Galashiels, Scottish Borders

The Borders Centre of Mission is in the Scottish Borders working alongside three Episcopal Churches – St Cuthbert’s Hawick, St John’s Selkirk and St Peter’s Galashiels. Tim is currently working with the churches and local people to identify what is needed to meet the needs of the area. They have also been made chaplains to the Scottish Football Association and to Gala Fairydean Rovers Football Club, where they offer everyday pastoral care and support and a listening ear at times of personal crisis.

Tim Hatton writes…

Hawick (pronounced Hoick) feels completely cut off. Most people speed up the M74 and think they’ve only hit Scotland when they get to Edinburgh. And people feel that isolation, they feel abandoned – even our hospital is two bus rides away.

People can go the whole week, almost live their entire lives, and not go outside of our estate. It’s ground down poor; you see cars on the street that don’t move because they need a repair – there’s one across the road from us that hasn’t moved in a year.

When I told people I lived here, there was this sharp intake of breath and, ‘ooh, what do you want to live there for?’

I’M THE FIRST MINISTER TO HAVE LIVED ON THE ESTATE IN AT LEAST TWENTY YEARS!

But we wanted to be here, to be good residents, to walk the streets with our dog, say hi to our neighbours, and make relationships. And it makes a difference. People have come to faith just by us being here.

One lady, we only got to know because she was living four doors up the street, asked if we could Christen her baby. In the end both she and her baby were baptised. Now, some of her friends are enquiring about baptism as well!

We’ve been making real relationships, supporting people in crisis, and inviting them into community. Our vision is to set up a Church on the High Street and turn a dilapidated old shop into something special.

Bringing a bit of love back into one of the most deprived places in a forgotten corner of the Borders.

Tim Hatton, Borders Centre of Mission

Type of Work

Chaplaincy

Evangelists & Leaders

Tim Hatton, Lead Evangelist

Connect with A7 Centre of Mission

Partnerships

Diocese of Edinburgh

Edinburgh Diocese stretches from the Firth of Forth down to the English border. They are one of 7 dioceses in the Scottish Episcopal Church, and part of the world wide Anglican Communion.

View more of Our Work

Get Involved

Turn your belief into action and be the helping hand that our communities are reaching for. Will you join us?

Find out how

Donate

Your generosity is transforming the lives of those who need it most. Together we can achieve so much.

Make a donation