- Dairsie Old Church
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Dairsie Old Church 
Dairsie Church in the late 19th century, engraved by R W BillingsLocation: Dairsie, Fife, Scotland
GB grid reference NO413161Coordinates: 56°20′00″N 2°56′58″W / 56.3333333°N 2.94944°WCoordinates: 56°20′00″N 2°56′58″W / 56.3333333°N 2.94944°W Built: 1621 Built for: John Spottiswoode Listed Building – Category A Official name: Dairsie Old Church (St Mary's) Designated: 1 March 1984 Reference #: 2610 Scheduled monument Official name: Dairsie, church Designated: 29 october 1969 Reference #: 788 
Location of Dairsie Old Church in FifeDairsie Old Church, formerly St Mary's Church, is the former parish church of Dairsie, in north-east Fife, Scotland. It is located around 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) south of Dairsie village. The present church was built in 1621, and is an unusual example of post-Reformation Gothic architecture in Scotland.[1] It is no longer in use as a church, and is protected as a Category A listed building,[2] and as a scheduled ancient monument.[3]
History
A church at Dairsie is recorded in 1183.[1] In 1300 the church was granted to the Convent of St Andrews; it may have been rebuilt at this time.[1]
In 1621, the present church was built by John Spottiswoode (1565–1639), Archbishop of St Andrews, who had recently bought the adjacent Dairsie Castle. The Spottiswoode family crest, with John Spottiswoode's initials, is carved over the west door.[2]
In the late 18th century the original flat roof was replaced with the present piend (hipped) roof. A major refit was carried out in 1835–1837, including works to the interior, although most of this has since been removed.[2]
Ecclesiastical use of the church ceased in 1966,[4] the congregation now using the former Free Church in Dairsie village.
References
- ^ a b c "Dairsie Old Church". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/32904/details/dairsie+old+church/. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
- ^ a b c "Dairsie Old Church (St Mary's), Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland. http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=2610. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
- ^ "Certificate of Service of Notice... Affecting a disused church at Dairsie in the county of Fife". Scottish Development Department (Ancient Monuments). 29 October 1969. http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/eschedule/show?id=788&OK=Y. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
- ^ "Dairsie Old Parish Church". Gazetteer for Scotland. http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst11250.html. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
External links
- Excerpts From The 1861 Parochial Directory Of Fife And Kinross: Parish Of Dairsie, Fife Family History Society
Categories:- Churches in Fife
- Category A listed buildings in Scotland
- Listed buildings in Fife
- Listed churches in Scotland
- Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Scotland
- Buildings and structures completed in 1621
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