766 years of worship coming to end at Kirkcaldy's Old Kirk
One of Kirkcaldy’s most famous buildings is set to close, bringing to an end 766 years of worship on the site.
The Old Kirk, Kirkcaldy.
- By Bruce Fegen
- Published in the Courier : 02.09.10
- Published online : 02.09.10 @ 06.12am
The Old Kirk merged with nearby St Brycedale Church 10 years ago to form St Bryce Kirk, but the two buildings have been used for worship since then.
The financial health of the local church and the Church of Scotland has forced the congregational trustees to decide the B-listed Old Kirk will cease to be used for worship after November 7.
The occasion will be marked by the sacrament of communion in the morning and an evening thanksgiving service.
A trustees spokesman said, "This decision was not taken lightly, but with a great deal of sadness and regret. It has been brought about by the financial state in which not only the local church, but also the national church, finds itself.
"St Bryce Kirk congregation has had the luxury of two buildings for worship over the past 10 years and committed a considerable amount on the modernisation of the Old Kirk, making it an excellent venue for worship and for concerts.
"However, the upkeep of ecclesiastical buildings is very costly and with the reduction of congregational numbers and revenue, it has been necessary for the presbytery to review the whole picture as part of a national initiative."
The Old Kirk will now be marketed for sale by the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland.
Consecrated in 1244, the kirk was the scene of a tragedy in 1828, when so many people crowded in to hear famous preacher Edward Irving that the back gallery collapsed.
Falling beams killed two members of the congregation and another 26 were crushed to death in the rush for the exit.
Former Kirkcaldy councillor Anne Watters, chairwoman of Kirkcaldy Civic Society, said she was appalled at the decision to close the church, although she accepted that falling congregations meant such things had to happen.
'Upsetting'
She said, "It's extremely upsetting and we will be campaigning for an alternative use for the Old Kirk.
"This will be discussed at our next meeting, but in the meantime I will be contacting the minister to see if the church can be included in Doors Open day on September 12.
"This will let people see what it has to offer."
Mrs Watters said it was unlikely the church would be suitable for conversion into housing as there was a lack of amenity space, but suggested one possibility might be for it to become an extension to Kirkcaldy's museum, as it contained a lot of material which had never been shown.
"Fife Council is not going to buy it, but they could perhaps rent it temporarily to see how successful it was as a museum," she added.
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