It was a great occasion, with a packed congregation. The morning service was attended by the Mayor, Coun Flora Simpson and the civic party, Sir Alan Beith MP and his wife Diana and representatives from other churches in the town.

The service was conducted by the minister, Rev Paul Sewell, who extended a warm welcome and thanked Jessie Dodds and the organisers for the exhibition which had been held during the previous three days.

The lesson was read by Rev Ainslie Walton whose grandfather - also Rev Ainslie Walton - was minister of Wallace Green from 1886 to 1891.

On display was the silver trowel which had been presented by the congregation to Dr John Cairns, minister when the building was opened on June 19, 1859.

In his sermon, Mr Hewitt congratulated the church on reaching its 150th anniversary. Its history, however, went right back to the time of the Reformation and beyond.

They could look at the past and idolise, and it was right to look back and celebrate.

They had the option of rejecting the past, and for some it reminded them of failure but in rejection they lost their identity.

Wallace Green was acknowledging its history and they were right to do so. It was not, however, the church of the past but of today.

"We now enjoy the freedom of religion, of thought and expression for which people were prepared to make sacrifices and to die," he said.

As a congregation they must have faith in the future, and be committed to the heritage of the past and prepared to take it forward.

If God was with them, great things could be achieved, but he urged them to have an attitude of conquest and of commitment.

They needed to be encouraged to put their hand into the hand of God and continue to move forward.

James Armstrong, senior elder, made a presentation on behalf of the congregation to Mr Sewell and his wife, Val, who had celebrated their ruby wedding last week, and there was also a gift of Horncliffe honey for the Moderator and his wife, Molly. In turn, Mr Hewitt made a presentation to the Church of Wallace Green.

A lunch was served to the congregation with catering by Peter Allan and his staff, and the highlight was a superb iced cake, made by Robert Whitton, which was a model of the church itself.

In the evening, the celebration day ended with a songs of praise in which favourite hymns nominated by the congregation, were sung.

Attending was Rev Alison Meikle, who was minister until 2002, and she was accompanied by her husband Hugh and son Euan.

Also present was Rev Duncan Murray, Moderator of the Duns Presbytery. Both offered their congratulations.

Berwick Male Voice Choir, who have links with Wallace Green extending back for a quarter of a century, sang four songs.

So many suggestions for hymns had come forward that several will be included at morning service on Sunday.

For the congregation it had been a momentous day and now they face the challenge of progressing to their 200th anniversary.