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Publication Account
Date 1987
Event ID 1016891
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Publication Account
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1016891
This church replaced the former parish church, the ruins of which still stand at the Kirkton, north of the town (NT 230863). Burntisland had grown considerably in the 16th century and achieved Royal Burgh status in 1568. To symbolise this prosperity the inhabitants of the burgh decided to build a new church. Permission was obtained from the heritors and the townsfolk raised the funds. The design made a considerable contribution to the development of the architectural traditions of the Reformed church, producing a plan form and method of construction unparalleled in Scotland. The church was erected in 1592 and local tradition suggests that it was copied from Noorderkerk, Amsterdam. It does not resemble that building but is closer in planning terms to the Oosterkerk in Amsterdam, the Nieuwe Kerk in Haarlem and the Scot's Kirk in Rotterdam (now destroyed), although all four churches are later than Burntisland. The idea may indeed have come from the continent but, until a model is found there, it must be regarded as a Scottish design.
The building is approximately 18 m square internally and four piers enclose a 6 m square in the centre. The piers are connected by semi-circular arches, whilst rampant arches spring from external angled buttresses to about the piers on the diagonal. The tower and buttresses are constructed of ashlar, and the walls are harled rubble. The four lower courses of the tower are original, but the top section dates from 1749. A stone above the west door has the date '1592' and an inverted anchor.
The gallery is entered from the east by means of a forestair with a good moulded balustrade. The moulded doorway architrave is inscribed on the lower member of the cornice: 'GODS. PROVIDENCE. IS. OUR. INHERITANCE. JUNE 6 1679.' and has an inverted anchor on a cushioned frieze.
Internally, the church has a wooden gallery on each wall. The fronts of these galleries are panelled and painted. The panels bear a number of dates, mottoes and representations of ships, seamen and nautical instruments. There are also a number of craft or guild symbols.
The pulpit is sited against the south-west pier leaving an entrance area, vestry and stair to the gallery in that corner. The minister could then preach diagonally across the church. This was an important break with the traditions of the Roman Catholic churches and expressed the Presbyterian requirement to hear the spoken word. Directly opposite the pulpit is a fine 17th century canopied pew, constructed of oak inlaid with other woods. The front and back are panelled and the canopy is supported on moulded and reeded shafts. It bears the date 1606, the initials S.R.M. and the arms of Sir Robert Melville.
Information from ‘Exploring Scotland’s Heritage: Fife and Tayside’, (1987).
