He has been there for seven years and has helped one of the most prominent churches in the area to continue its steady development into its 151st year.

He has also been minister to Lowick Church of Scotland and is chaplain to 1016 Squadron (Berwick) Air Training Corps.

His final weeks in Berwick were particularly busy, for they included five christenings, a wedding, a communion service and a drumhead service.

A native of Edinburgh, he was educated at Douglas Ewart High School, in Newton Stewart. He went on to Edinburgh University where he gained his MA degree in 1966 and a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1969.

It was while he was a student that he met his wife-to-be Val when he went to her father's church.

"I had toyed with the idea of going into the ministry when I was quite young," he recalled. "When I was finished high school I was accepted to study economics. One weekend I went to the Keswick convention and I felt God was calling me.

"I went back to university and they were able to alter my course and pave the way to take a BD degree."

After being ordained, Mr Sewell served as an assistant at Elgin for two years.

His first sole charge was Windygates with Milton of Balgonie in Fife, then he took over at Stirling north, where he served for 25 years, before accepting the call to St Andrew's Wallace green in 2003.

"I was very aware of the traditions of a very long-established and important church," he explained.

"I was also well aware that I was coming to a Church of Scotland in England where the parish church was Church of England. It was part of a great challenge and Val and I have enjoyed every minute of it. There is so much we are going to miss.

"Berwick is a lovely town, a real mix with urban development, the farmers and the rural setting of Lowick. Driving there for the regular morning service and looking across to the Cheviots sets us up for the rest of the day."

While at Berwick the minister has built on the family service which has proved so popular and he has conducted monthly services for the residents and staff of Tweed View residential home. On alternative years the church has hosted the Remembrance service.

His wife Val, a trained shorthand typist, has been president of the ladies guild and an enthusiastic member of the choir. She has also worked regularly for the Safe Missions bookshop in Berwick and was manager of the bookshop in Stirling.

They have three children; daughters in Stirling and Dunblane and a son in Glasgow.

"We are retiring to Stirling and it will be lovely to be closer to the family and the grandchildren, but we will always have a deep affection for Berwick," he added.

Throughout his seven years at Wallace Green, he was also a member of Duns presbytery.

St Andrew's Wallace Green was filled for the farewell service on Sunday. Guests included Sir Alan Beith MP and Lady Diana, members of the Sunday club under leader Louise Newton, who received end of season prizes, and a contingent from Berwick Air Training Corps.

Hymns included the first to be sung when Mr Sewell took over. There were also two of his favourite readings by Bea Nicholson and the choir, under organist Rena Telfer, sang a special number.

Thanking the congregation, Mr Sewell quoted the words: "It has been good to share with you - more than you'll ever know."

At the close, senior elder James Armstrong presented Mr Sewell with a substantial cheque. He said their minister had fulfilled his promise to stay until he retired. Organisations within the church had all flourished and his sermons had been uplifting. The congregation would know now more about the Bible than they did before.

Presentations were also made by the Sunday club and by Andrew Dewar on behalf of the carpet bowling club. A presentation to Mrs Sewell was handed over by Anne Legge. Afterwards, a buffet lunch was held in the church.

A vacancy committee has been set up to find a successor to Mr Sewell. Christine Taylor will conduct the services and from September onwards, Rev Bob Higham will take over.