352
profits of it till its reformation (y). In the ancient Taxatio, Coldingliam with
its chapel were rated at 120 marks, which is the highest value of any church
within the deanery of the Merse. Besides the church of Ayton, which was
formerly a suhordinate chapel to the mother church of Coldingham, there was
a chapel on St. Ab's head, the remains whereof may still he seen in its ruins.
The parliament of 1633 passed an act in favour of the minister of Colding-
ham (z). [The parish has heen divided since 1851 into the quoad sacra parishes
of Coldingham and Hound wood. The former has 294, and the latter 276 com-
municants. The stipend of Coldingham is £ 396. A U.P. church of 1870 has
365 members, and there is a Congregational church, erected in 1878.]
AYTON parish derived its name from the location of the church and its ton
on the bank of the Eye. The name was anciently written Eytun, which is
obviously the Saxon tun, a vill or town, which was affixed by the Saxon
settlers to the Celtic name of the river (a). Eitun was granted, as we have just
seen, by the Scottish Edgar to St. Cuthbert's monks ; and thus became the
property of the priory of Coldingham, and partook of its fate. Thus early was
there a church at Ayton, though it was probably subordinate to the church of
Coldingham ; and, of course, it does not appear in the ancient Taxatio among
the churches in the deanery of the Merse (b). Lying near Berwick bounds,
Ayton has been the scene of great events. A truce was made here in 1384
within the church of Ayton (c). In 1498 the small castle of Ayton was taken
by the Earl of Surrey (d). A seven years truce was, however, soon after signed
between the hostile kingdoms within the church of Ayton, which stands on the
southern hank of the Eye (e). [The ancient church of Ayton was superseded
by a new building erected in 1866 ; communicants, 393 ; stipend, £350. Two
U.P. churches, Springbank and Summerhill, have 167 and 212 members.]
(y) Chart. Coldingham throughout.
(z) Unprinted Act, dated 28th June 1633. The present parish church of Coldingham is old, mean,
and dark. It was, however, divided among the parish heritors, and repaired and new seated about the
year 1773. The manse and offices are good, and the glebe and garden are among the best in this
presbytery. Stat. Acco., xii., 47-9. For other particulars of Coldingham parish, see the Statistical
Account as above, and the Tabular State subjoined to Berwickshire.
(a) As early as the 12th century, there were two villages of that name on the river Eye, which were
distinguished as Upper-Eyton and Lower-Eyton. Chart. Colding. There are two Eytuns in Edgar's
charter to St. Cuthbert's monks : " Eitun, aliam Eitun." And. Independ. Appx., No. 1.
(b} In 1265, Hugh de Darlington, the prior of Durham, granted Henry do Prenderghest the privilege
of an oratory, or private chapel, within his court of Prenderghest : " infra curiam suam de Prender-
" ghest." Chart. Cold., 57. The Scottish Edgar granted with other mansiones, Prenegest to
St. Cuthbert's monks. Ander. Independ. Appx., ii. (c) Rym., vii., 434. (d) Bord. Hist.. 468.
(e) Ib., 469. The village stands on the north side of the Eye. For other particulars, the more
curious reader may have recourse to the Stat. Acco., i., 79, and to the Tabular State which is
subjoined to Berwickshire.