Charity no. SC042128

Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust

preserving Kirkcaldy's heritage for the community

Past and Future

The Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust has been set up by a group of local people concerned to preserve the heritage of Kirkcaldy contained in the Old Kirk, after its closure as a place of worship by the Church of Scotland on 7th November 2010.

The "B" listed church was put up for sale in August 2011 and Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust was successful in acquiring it to maintain it for community use as a concert hall, community resource, heritage centre and for continuing worship. This was due to the generous financial support from John Sim, whose father was Minister of the Old Kirk. It is hoped thus to preserve the heritage of continuous worship and service for over 800 years.

Kirkcaldy Old Kirk is the site of the first Christian worship in Kirkcaldy after the Celtic missionaries brought the faith here in the 5th century. The first written record of the Kirk is in 1244 when the Roman Catholic Bishop de Bernham consecrated the building to St. Patrick and St. Brisse (St. Bryce) but we know there was a Celtic church there before that. The ancient tower dates from the 15th century.

Many famous and ordinary Kirkcaldy folk are part of this church and town's history and are buried in the surrounding graveyard. Adam Smith was christened as an infant here, and Rev. George Gillespie, an author of the Westminster Confession of Faith, lies underneath the Kirk.

After over 800 years of continuous Christian worship and service to the community at the heart of the town, we in the Trust are seeking to retain this beautiful building for the benefit of the community. We want to preserve that heritage and continue that tradition.

Useful links

• RBS Community Force - Our project page entry in the RBS Community Force Awards details what we are doing and how you can help as a volunteer
• Kirkcaldy Civic Society - Find out more about the history of our town through events, guided walks and talks detailed on this website - with much more info to read and see!
• Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Trust Petition to Church of Scotland - View our petition, which attracted 1200 signatures, to the Church of Scotland General Trustees to preserve Kirkcaldy Old Kirk for community use.

Join us!

We welcome your contribution to our efforts, whether it be financial, as a volunteer helper, as a community organisation interested in using the Old Kirk or in hiring it as a performance space. If you would like to become a Friend of the Old Kirk and receive news of the Trust's progress please support us with a donation below and contact us on the link opposite.