Save Kirkcaldy Old Kirk for the Community

We support the efforts of the newly-formed Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust to retain Kirkcaldy Old Kirk for the benefit of the whole community.

We ask the Church of Scotland to preserve the Old Kirk in its operating condition and, in particular, not to remove any equipment or fittings until completion of consultations and viability appraisals.

Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust has been set up by a group of local people to preserve for public benefit the heritage of Kirkcaldy Old Kirk, which we view as under threat from the proposed closure of the church building by the Church of Scotland after November 7th 2010.

We are particularly concerned that the building should not be
1. Left to go to rack and ruin
2. Inappropriately developed

Kirkcaldy Old Kirk with its listed 15th century tower is a prominent building in the centre of the town, on a little hill just off the High Street. It is part of Kirkcaldys identity and history, having been at the heart of the community for over 765 years.

With its first written record in 1244 and its earlier form of existence as a Celtic church on the site established by the first Columban missionaries to Fife, this is the mother church of all Christian denominations in Kirkcaldy, with a continuous tradition of Christian worship here from then till now.

This is the Town Church. It is the oldest building in Kirkcaldy in continuous use and its surrounding graveyard tells the story of Kirkcaldys history sailors, merchants, industrialists, famous clergymen and politicians. The Kirkin o the Council used to take place here with the special Magistrates Gallery and 29 Provosts are buried in the graveyard. We feel it is a prominent and significant building in the town with a beautiful and unique set of stained glass windows all around the building and that it should continue to be used by the people of Kirkcaldy. We also feel its use should help local people feel more aware of and proud of their history as a community.

Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust is seeking to keep Kirkcaldy's historic town church in use by the community as befitting its Christian tradition of community service. We believe that it would be in the interests of all parties to find a way to maintain the building and its contents intact over the next few weeks, so that a proper options appraisal can be completed and a sound business plan formulated by the Trust for its future.

We support the aims of the Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust and ask the Church of Scotland to facilitate them by preserving the building in its operating condition until the business planning is completed.