An Introduction
The Patron Saint of Largo ( Largauch ) is St Leonard who was born in 496 AD and died 559 AD. He was a Frankish saint closely associated with the town and abbey of Saint-Leonard-de- Noblat in Haute-Vienne in the Limousin region of France. Largo along with Kilconquhar, Maybole and Logie was given to the Monastery of the Cisterian Order of Nuns of St Mary at North Berwick by Earl Duncan II of Fife. This was confirmed by Bishop William Malvoisin of St Andrews between 1204 and 1228 with the stipulation that the nuns must preserve the vicarage at Largo to the south west of the church held by Master Hugh the physician, for his lifetime, thereafter present a suitable vicar to hold the vicarage for the service of the parish church.
There is some evidence that the church had been established in Largo in the reign of King Angus of Scotland (820 – 832) which is confirmed by the carvings on the Largo Stone in the grounds of the church. This is Pictish in origin. The church was re-consecrated by David de Bernham, Bishop of St Andrews (1240 – 1251) on Friday 17 th July 1243. The Pontifical or Service Book he used is preserved in the National Library of Paris.
The oldest existing part of the building is the Chancel which was built in 1623. It is possible that as the walls are thicker at the bottom this constituted part of the original building. The steeple dates from 1628 and the bell from 1636. It was possibly enlarged about 1688. In 1816-17 the Nave and North and South Transepts were built with the Chancel being bricked off. However this was re-opened in 1826.
1894 saw major re-decoration carried out under the auspices of Mr (later Sir) John Gilmour. Square pews with a small table shut in with a door were removed and pews installed. A new pulpit was installed and three new stained glass windows provided. In addition the vestry was built and the South Transept enlarged.
On 5 October 1958 Newburn Parish Church and Largo Kirk united which saw the closure of Newburn.
In 1965 major re-decoration saw the removal of the 1894 pulpit being replaced by the pulpit from Newburn Church and the installation of the Newburn Baptismal Font. In 1981 a pipe organ was installed in the North Gallery.
In 1987 on the retirement of both Largo Ministers, the Presbytery of St Andrews took the opportunity to link Largo and Newburn with Largo St David’s and have one Minister serve both congregations.
The following gives some details of the long and varied history of this church described at the beginning of the 20 th Century as the “ Jewel in the crown of the Church of Scotland”.
There is some evidence that the church had been established in Largo in the reign of King Angus of Scotland (820 – 832) which is confirmed by the carvings on the Largo Stone in the grounds of the church. This is Pictish in origin. The church was re-consecrated by David de Bernham, Bishop of St Andrews (1240 – 1251) on Friday 17 th July 1243. The Pontifical or Service Book he used is preserved in the National Library of Paris.
The oldest existing part of the building is the Chancel which was built in 1623. It is possible that as the walls are thicker at the bottom this constituted part of the original building. The steeple dates from 1628 and the bell from 1636. It was possibly enlarged about 1688. In 1816-17 the Nave and North and South Transepts were built with the Chancel being bricked off. However this was re-opened in 1826.
1894 saw major re-decoration carried out under the auspices of Mr (later Sir) John Gilmour. Square pews with a small table shut in with a door were removed and pews installed. A new pulpit was installed and three new stained glass windows provided. In addition the vestry was built and the South Transept enlarged.
On 5 October 1958 Newburn Parish Church and Largo Kirk united which saw the closure of Newburn.
In 1965 major re-decoration saw the removal of the 1894 pulpit being replaced by the pulpit from Newburn Church and the installation of the Newburn Baptismal Font. In 1981 a pipe organ was installed in the North Gallery.
In 1987 on the retirement of both Largo Ministers, the Presbytery of St Andrews took the opportunity to link Largo and Newburn with Largo St David’s and have one Minister serve both congregations.
The following gives some details of the long and varied history of this church described at the beginning of the 20 th Century as the “ Jewel in the crown of the Church of Scotland”.
The Parish of Largo & NewburnNewburn - the lands of "Nithbren" were granted to the Abbey of Dunfermline by David I and were confirmed by Robert, Bishop of St. Andrews (1126-1158). At its eastern boundary is Balchrystie, "Town of the Christians". Now a farm it was once a Culdee settlement given by Queen Margaret and Malcolm Canmore to the Culdees of Loch Leven in the 11th century.
Largo along with Kilconquar, Maybole and Logie was given to the Monastery of the Cistercian Order of Nuns of St. Mary at North Berwick, by Earl Duncan II of Fife (1154-1204). The revenues and tithes from these Parishes were used to maintain the Nunnery. This was confirmed by Bishop William Malvoisin of St. Andrews between 1204 and 1228 with the stipulation that the nuns must reserve the vicarage of Largo to the South West of the church held by Master Hugh the physician, for his lifetime; and thereafter present a suitable vicar to hold the vicarage for the service of the parish church. Nothing is definitively known about any Christian settlement in the area before that time. However, the Largo Stone indicates Celtic and earlier form of worship. Largo has been peopled since the earliest days - evidenced by the discovery of Bronze "cists" of 1500 BC. Some slight evidences of the Roman and post Roman occupation of Fife have been found. some are of the opinion that the Roman town of Lindum was at Lundie or Lundin and the farm at "Chesterton" on the slopes of Largo Law was the site of a Roman encampment. Largo KirkConsecration - David de Bernham, Bishop of St. Andrews (1240-1251) re-consecrated the Church at Newburn on Wednesday 15th July 1243 and two days later on Friday 17th July 1243 re-consecrated the Church at Largo. The Pontifical or Service Book he used on these occasions is preserved in the National Library of Paris. On entering a Church he raised aloft the Cross, planted it in the middle of the Church and cried out with a loud voice, "The Cross driveth out the foe; the Cross of Christ triumpheth".
Whilst the oldest remaining parts of the building date from the 17th century a Church has probably stood on this site from the 9th century when Angus was King of Scotland (820-832 AD). Indeed on the 28th of April 1985 the "1100 year" celebrations commenced with a Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication in the Church at which Cardinal Gordon Gray, Roman Catholic Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh; Rt Reverend Michael Hare Duke, the Episcopal Bishop of St. Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane; Reverend Kenneth Macvicar, Minister of Kenmore and Chaplain to H.M. The Queen; Reverend Alex Watson, Minister of Anstruther and Moderator of St. Andrews Presbytery; Reverend Joseph Campbell, Minister of Largo Baptist Church; Reverend James Mackenzie, Minister of Largo St David's Church and Reverend Douglas Lister, Minister of Largo and Newburn Parish Church participated. On 5th October 1985 Newburn Parish Church and Largo Kirk united. In 1987 on the retirement of both Largo Ministers, the Presbytery of St. Andrews took the opportunity to link Largo & Newburn with Largo St. David's and have them choose a Minister to serve both congregations. |