THE parish of Fogo is in what was historically the county of Berwickshire, now part of Scottish Borders.
The parish was given by David I in the 12th century to the Earl of Dunbar, and in 1147 Earl Gospatrick in turn granted it to the Abbey of Kelso. There was a Roman camp near the south-western edge of the parish, which has been for centuries used for arable farming. The parish church is set in the ‘kirkton’ of Fogo, and was described in the 1890s as an ‘old and picturesque ivy-mantled building. It had been enlarged in 1853, and contained 278 sittings. At that time the population was just over 400.
The present church building incorporates the lower courses of the rectangular 12th-century structure. In 1671 the Trotter of Charterhall loft was constructed in the west end, and the loft front of that date survives, though relocated. A south aisle was added soon after 1677 (when the Hog of Harcase loft was inserted into the east end) to create a T-plan. The upper walls were rebuilt in 1683, with both landowners’ lofts reached by external stairs. Further rebuilding took place in 1775, when the present round-headed windows were installed.