Elie Parish Church - Fife, Scotland
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creg-ny-baa
N 56° 11.435 W 002° 49.246
30V E 511123 N 6227305
Metal plate on a stone panel giving details on the history of the parish church of Elie in the Kingdom of Fife in Scotland.
Waymark Code: WM18FRZ
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 07/27/2023
Views: 0
This historical information can be found on a stone plinth at the entrance of the churchyard in the small coastal town of Elie on the Firth of Forth coast. The metal plate on the stone reads as follows:
'Elie Parish Church was built and endowed by William Scott of Ardross. It was opened for worship on 4th August 1639 and the parish of Elie was disjoined from that of Kilconquhar on 11th September 1641. The steeple was not part of the original church; it was added by Sir John Anstruther in 1726.
Elie Parish Church is one of many examples of the T-plan building which were erected in Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries. In these buildings, we see the Reformed emphasis on the Preaching of the Word with the pulpit being the centre-piece in the middle of the long wall.
One of the ministers in the early years of the congregation was James Chalmers, who held the charge from 1710-1741. He was the great grandfather of Thomas Chalmers, one of the leaders of the Disruption in 1832, which resulted in a congregation of the Free Church being established in Elie. The Free Church building stood on the north side of Bank Street, just to the west of the Royal Bank. It was latterly known as The Wood Memorial Church; the name being attributed to the Rev. Walter Wood who was minister from 1845 to 1882. The two churches were re-united on 5th June 1949 and the Wood Memorial Church was demolished some years later when it was decided that the Old Parish Church should be the place of worship.
The Parish of Elie became linked with Kilconquhar and Colinsburgh Parish Church on 24th April 1977. From that date one minister has served the two parishes. These were united on 1st March 2009.
Since Elie Parish Church was built, there have been a number of alterations, each of which has been designed to improve the fabric and the appearance of this place of worship. It stands today as a sanctuary for the residents of the Parish of Elie and for the many visitors who come here on a regular and occasional basis. Elie Parish Church is , in this most important sense, a place where the Word of God is regularly proclaimed and the Name of God is regularly praised.
There is a Garden of Remembrance towards the rear of the Church on the west side.'