Minister revives lambing service

The traditional lambing services is being revived in the Borders

A tradition dating back to the Middle Ages is being revived by a Church of Scotland minister in the Borders.

Rev Anthony Jones, of the Ruberslaw parish, will carry out an open-air lambing service at Gospel Hall Farm at Lanton near Jedburgh.

The minister read about the tradition from centuries ago and was keen to bring it back into being.

He hopes a wide cross-section of the community will attend the service to be held on Sunday afternoon.

Participants will meet in a field on the farm where Rev Jones will carry out a blessing of the sheep.

There will also be readings with a connection to the countryside or a springtime theme.

'Very pastoral'

Rev Jones hopes it will be as close as possible to the events which used to be held centuries ago.

"It was a very pastoral event when they did this thing back in the Middle Ages," he said.

"It was my idea which came from reading about what used to happen a long time ago.

"It has probably not happened in the Church of Scotland for a while.

"The whole idea is to involve the community outside the church."