Lower Largo of the 18th century would have looked quite different to present day village. The painting above gives a good impression of the thatched and pantiled buildings, of various shapes and sizes, constructed from local stone and crowded into the available space. In the background of this view, the former Largo Relief Church would have stood. This was the church that preceded the 1871 former church building on Main Street.

The origins of the Largo Relief Church date back to a vacancy at Largo Kirk in Upper Largo in 1768 which led to the controversial appointment of Reverend David Burn. The portion of the congregation that were strongly opposed to this choice protested by leaving the church. These folk initially met in the open air to worship as an independent group but in 1770 they applied for (and were granted) pulpit supply from the Relief Church of Edinburgh. Soon afterwards, the newly formed congregation were given land from Mr Durham of Largo House upon which to erect a Church. Work soon began on the church building marked 'U.P. Church' on the 1866 map below.

This church would have been a simple rectangular structure, with entrance porch and internal balcony. The reminiscence below (which appeared in the 18 November 1884 Dundee Courier) tells of how the construction of the church was very much a community affair. Materials for the building were gathered from the beach by men, women and children, to supplement the mason's supplies. The total cost came to a modest £18 4s.

The building of the church was swiftly followed by the construction of a manse for the minister, the Reverend Robert Paterson, which still stands at 23 Main Street (pictured above). This would have originally had a thatched roof. A forestair to the rear provided access to the upper floor. For a long time this would have been one of the highest status dwellings in the village. 

The previous post about Largo St David's Church mentioned how, at the time when the old Relief Church building was dismantled, the remains of a former minister had to be removed from the site. This referred to the third minister of Largo Relief Church, James Gardiner, who held the position for 38 years, from 1805 until his death in 1843. He succeeded Rev. James Stuart who died in 1803.

James Gardiner was born around 1782 in Stirlingshire. The year after arriving in Largo, he married Dysart-born Elizabeth Ramsay. The record of their marriage is shown below. Their first child, Catherine, was born in 1807, followed by Robert (1809), Janet (1811), Isabella (1813) and James (1816). At the time of the 1841 census (the only one in which James appears), James is described as a clergyman, living with wife, Elizabeth and two daughters, Catherine and Isabella. Janet had died in 1828 aged 17. 
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During his 38 years as minister Reverend Gardiner would have witnessed many events among his congregation - births, deaths and marriages. He would have presided over many special occasions, including the example above of a soiree held in the church (or 'meeting house') in 1838. As he aged, an assistant and successor was sought and from 1840-41 Rev. Gardiner had a co-minister - Rev. James Hamilton. However, this succession plan did not work out and Hamilton left Largo. Gardiner remained in post until his death at the Relief Manse on 28 February 1843. At his request, he was laid to rest within the church that had been so central to his existence for most of his lifetime. A tribute to him was recorded in the Session Minutes - remarking on his faithful and devoted service:

"He preached, as he felt, he lived as he preached, and he died as he lived in the firm and blessed hope of a glorious resurrection."

Gardiner was followed by Reverend Bryce Kerr who was ordained one month after the death of Gardiner. However, he died only eight months later, at the young age of 27 years (on 25 November 1843). Throughout the 1840s, there had been much discussion around the proposed union between the Relief Church and the United Secession Church. This came to pass in 1847, when the United Presbyterian Church was formed and the church at Lower Largo took on that name. 
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In 1852, the now U.P. Church underwent refurbishment, as the 6 May Fifeshire Journal reported. The building was 80 years old by this point and in spite of these "considerable repairs", including the installation of new iron pillars to support the balcony, the church's days were numbered. Two decades after the repairs, the church building closed for good and was dismantled. The 18 July 1872 Fifeshire Journal used phrases such as "very ugly" and "tumble-down" to describe the old church. However, the fact that it had endured for a century and seen nine ministers serve the community that had played such a key role in its construction makes it a remarkable building in my opinion. 
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​The architect of Largo St David's Church was a prolific designer of churches across Scotland, known to have designed more than eighty of them, among other buildings. However, the Lower Largo church is an example of his work that does not feature in the list of buildings and designs credited to him in the Dictionary of Scottish Architects - here. His role as architect of Largo's former United Presbyterian Church seems to have been missed by archivists. Yet, the Fife Herald (16 March 1871) above tells how Baldie's plans for a "plain, neat and commodious" church were approved by the church committee. The new church would be aligned north-south, in contrast to the east-west facing old church that it would replace (which stood where Downfield now stands).

Baldie had already designed a number of churches for the United Presbyterian Church by 1871, including some in Fife. The new church was opened the following year, as reported in the Fifeshire Journal of 25 July 1872 below. The piece also notes that Baldie's plan had been drawn up "some years ago". No doubt it took time to raise the necessary funds to execute the plan. The main builder of the ediface was Mr Given (an Elie mason), with a number of unnamed experienced workmen taking on the rest of the labour. The remains of a  former minister, Rev. James Gardiner, had to be removed from the old church and reburied in Dundee. The foundation stone of the new building was laid by Provost Patrick Don Swan of Kirkcaldy, a flax merchant, shipowner and shipbuilder.
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Although described as 'plain', the church was adorned with some modest detailing. This included the initials D.M. to denote the then minister, David Malloch, and date 1871. A few basic rose and gothic triangle shaped windows are present (see some of those features in detail below). The fish motifs in the stained glass windows that can be seen today were likely a later addition, as these are not mentioned in the 20 July 1872 Fifeshire Advertiser description of the windows below. 

The most striking feature of the church (certainly when viewed from a distance) was a tall bellcote (now long gone) which once dominated the streetscape. Eventually becoming unsafe, this feature was removed and the bell which it housed moved to the rear of the building after a fundraising drive to pay for the work in the 1960s. The bell was gifted by Alexander Hogg and was more than likely made at the Gorbals Brass and Bell Foundry in Glasgow, which was Scotland's only ever industrial scale bell foundry, casting over 3,000 bells in its 90-year history.

Architect Robert Baldie was born in Stirling in 1824, the same year as David Malloch. Like Malloch, he moved to Glasgow in the 1840s. He was described as a joiner in the 1851 census - just before he married Ann Lennox Fraser the same year. Establishing his architectural practice in the early 1860s, he quickly gained a reputation for designing churches and manses across Scotland including Glasgow, Argyll, Perthshire and Fife. One of his Fife churches was the U.P. Church on Leven's Durie Street (latterly St Peter's R.C. Church). In fact, construction of the Leven and Largo churches overlapped, with the Leven church being completed first and opening in September 1871. Its builder was John Morrison of Glasgow, according to the Fife Free Press  of 23 September 1871. Both Leven and Largo U.P. churches were designed in a Gothic style of architecture and both were compact, street-fronted churches in pre-existing tight spaces.

Indeed, many of Baldie's United Presbyterian churches were built at relatively low cost with minimal detailing and were gothic revival in style. When comparing Baldie's other church designs from a similar date, similarities can be seen. For example, the gothic style main entrance, flanked by small lancet windows and a large gothic arched window above the door. There are variations in the detail of those features and some designs had the addition of a porch, belfry or spire. Clockwise from top left in the composite image below are:

Largo St David's (sketch by Mr J.H. Williams) (1871)
Leven U.P. Church (later known as St John's U.F Church and then St Peter's R.C. Church) (1870)
Carnoustie U.P. Church (1872)
Saltcoats Free Church (1869).

A long (but not comprehensive) list of Baldie's work appears in the Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Some of his churches were at the grander end of the scale, reflecting the wealth of the congregations which commissioned them. Below for example is Govanhill U.P. Church and further below the spired pair of churches - St Kessog's in Calendar (left, which later became a Tourist Information Centre) and Pollockshields Church (right).

Robert Baldie did design buildings other than churches and manses. His largest commission was the impressive frontage for the Carron Company Iron Works in Falkirk (1876) with ornamental clock tower above an archway entrance (see further below). The crow-stepped tower was originally the centrepiece for a 53-bay frontage, behind which were offices, a warehouse and a workshop. Only the archway and clocktower still survives today. He also undertook some overseas works, largely connected with church mission work. He designed schools, churches, hospitals and houses in places such as Spain, China and various parts of Africa.

​James Gulland was born in Lundin Mill on 11 February 1863 to Janet Adam. Attending the birth was midwife Margaret Bethune, who recorded the event in her register. It was unmarried Janet's first child and the following year John Gulland was recognised legally as the father. James was brought up with the Adam family and In his teens he started work as an apprentice tailor. There were several tailors established in Largo at the time and quite a few young lads were engaged as apprentices.

James stuck with the profession and at the time of the 1891 census was living and working in St Andrews as a journeyman tailor. It was there that he met Elizabeth May Harding, who he married on 3 January 1894. They were married at Largo Place by Rev. William Pulford of Largo Baptist Church. Later that year, on 18 October, they had a daughter, Rose Adele Gulland. However, the following year Elizabeth died suddenly (reported below in the St Andrews Citizen of 9 Nov 1895) leaving James a widower with an infant child. 
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James returned to Lundin Mill, setting up as a tailor and clothier there. In 1896, his uncle, William Adam passed on a property jointly to James, and his own brother David Adam (a joiner). This was Millburnlea in the dip at Largo Road (see below the entry from the sasine register which describes the ground as "bounded on west by Highway and on north by Lundin Mill Burn").  The 1899 Valuation Roll further below shows the entries for James Gulland, Tailor, and David Adam, Joiner, (who let the shop part of his property to John Adam the house painter).

In 1897 James Gulland married his second wife, English-born Emma Louisa Trimmer. ​Rev. William Pulford once again officiated. On 26 July 1900, the Leven Advertiser (above) announced that Gulland was to move his tailor business from Millburnlea to a newly-built shop on Leven Road. The new shop was larger than his Largo Road shop and was situated "three doors west from Post Office" (in what is now the Premier Store). It was also next door (to the west) of Somerville's Grocer and John Somerville in fact owned both shops - renting one to Gulland. The original row of shops on Leven Road (briefly known as Gilmour Place) comprised Miss Bremner's Post Office, Douglas the butcher, Somerville the grocer and James Gulland, Tailor.

The 1901 census finds James and Emma, plus six-year-old Rose, living above the Leven Road shop. James Gulland was described as 'Tailor and Draper' and his wife Emma was 'Tailor's Wife and Shop Assistant (Drapery)'. This suggests that they were working in the shop as a team. The role of 'tailor' was a skilled one, involving making, altering and repairing clothes, while the role of 'draper' centres around selling clothes, cloth and haberdashery. Adverts for their shop show that they also sold fancy goods and postcards (in other words a range of items that would appeal to summer visitors). Their shop and upstairs home can be partially seen on the extreme right of the postcard image below (shortly after completion) to the right of Somerville's. In 1903, the Gullands' daughter Louisa May was born.
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The shop seemed to thrive over the years that followed in the growing village of Lundin Links. Above is an advert for the 1901 sale (7 March Leven Advertiser). ​Gulland continued to own Millburnlea and rented the shop there to fruiterer Peter Smith. Over the years, James Gulland was an active member of Largo Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and the Superintendent of the Sabbath School. He also was part of the 'Pleasant Sunday Afternoon' or P.S.A. Brotherhood attached to the Church. This movement originated in 1875 and spread throughout the country - its purpose to gather people together for spiritual objectives on Sunday afternoons. The Largo P.S.A. attracted attendances of up to 100 during the first decade of the last century and Mr Gulland was a regular speaker.
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The photograph above, taken in the Durham Hall, dates to 1959. It shows the members and leaders of the Largo St David's Church 'Saturday Klub'. Meeting on Saturdays at 7pm, the club was run by and for teenagers. Leaders included the John Mack and Mr Watt (not to be confused with Rev. George Watt, pictured below, the minister at St David's between 1956 and 1963). 

The club offered a range of indoor games including badminton and table tennis. There was a club record-player for listening to or for dancing to. The church magazine of the time said that "the Club ensures a happy and care-free evening for all who come along" and that "there is always a cup of tea to be had during the course of the evening".

One event run by the club, as a fund raiser and open to the wider Church congregation, was a "Beatle Drive". This being a time when the group "The Beatles" were hugely popular, the evening was a variation on the usual Beetle Drive. The hall was decorated for the event with "approximately 250 pictures of The Beatles"! The background music for the evening was of course a "certain four men". So successful was the event that it was repeated a few weeks later. If you see someone you know in the photo, please comment.

​When I spotted the above postcard of Largo Villa, Newport, I suspected that there must be a connection to Largo, perhaps involving the people shown in the image.  This seemed even more likely to be the case when the recipient of the card turned out to be Mrs James Gillies of Lower Largo (see below). Fortunately, the postcard was clearly dated and the sender had signed the message, which read:

With invited wishes for your happiness this Christmastide. R. Robertson. Xmas 1904.

So, with a timeframe and a name to go on, here's the story behind the postcard. Robert Robertson was born in Lower Largo in 1858, the youngest of five brothers. The 1861 census shows father Henry Robertson (a tea dealer - although previously a linen weaver) residing on the main street close to the Orry, with his wife Janet Gibb and sons William, Henry, George, David and Robert. The family moved to Dundee when Robert was about nine years old.

By 1871, Janet Robertson had been widowed and was living with three of her five sons in Dundee. William was a 'provison traveller', David a 'grocer' and Robert still at school. Eventually Robert was apprenticed to the grocery trade too and went on to start business with William as wholesale produce merchants under the name of W. & R. Robertson. This partnership continued until 1917 when the brothers retired.

Robert married Mary Ann Young in 1883 and by the time of the 1891 census the pair were living at Largo Villa, which was at Woodmuir Park in Newport, commanding panoramic views over the Tay to Dundee. It must be Robert and Mary that are sitting in the deck chairs in the postcard image, with their housekeeper Isabella Williamson (who was with them for many years) standing in the doorway. The couple had no children.

Long time members of the Rattray Street Baptist Church in Dundee, Robert was a deacon there for over half a century and for a spell also the treasurer. Mary died in 1939. Robert died at Largo Villa aged 87 on 12 January 1946. He left his home and its contents, along with a substantial sum of money, to the church. Largo Villa was joined to the next door house and became a convalescent rest home known as the Robertson Rest Home (see images below) - remaining so for many decades. Robert also left a sum of money to Largo Baptist Church and to a significant range of other causes. Clearly, he maintained his link to Largo throughout his long life, despite having left there as a young lad.
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Above is a 'then and now' comparison of the roofless ruin of Newburn Old Church, which is located to the north west of Upper Largo, close to Drumeldrie. The east end of the church is of pre-Reformation date and may be part of the original structure, which was dedicated by Bishop Bernham in 1243. The top postcard image above dates to the early years of the twentieth century, when the structure was covered with thick ivy, long since removed. Two very new-looking headstones appear in the foreground on the left, which appear more weathered and less straight today. The chain link has disappeared from the stone posts surrounding this plot. The gravestone on the extreme right above has been removed, apart from its base, while some neighbouring headstones have tilted with the passage of time.

Here's what RCAHMS had to report on the Old Parish Church following a field visit in 1927:

"At the south side of the road close to Little Dumbarnie, half a mile north-west of Balchrystie, stand the ruins of the old parish church, so densely clad with ivy that the external features are not apparent . The rubble walls rise to a height of about 12 feet, and there are east and west gables, the latter with a late belfry. The church measures internally 54 feet 10 inches in length by 12 feet 4 inches in breadth at the east end and 14 feet 10 inches at the west end the widening being all on tile north between the west gable and a transeptal aisle, which projects from the middle of the north wall and is a later addition.

The windows, one of which in the west gable has had a circular head, are now all built up, and other structural changes have been made. The original entrance is probably the round-headed door near the western end of the south wall, but the porch which covers it is later. An equilateral-headed credence in the north wall with roll-moulding and outer checks for a door and a small locker-recess beneath, is a pre-Reformation feature, as is also a recessed piscina, chamfered, with a bowl 10 inches in diameter opposite to it in the south wall. A larger recess at the southern end of the east gable, 2 ½ feet high by 1 foot 10 inches wide by 1 foot 2 inches deep, now closed by a memorial stone, may also be early."

A few hundred yards away is the the early nineteenth century parish church which replaced the old church around 1815. This later church closed when the last minister of Newburn, Reverend Frederick Cox retired in 1958. The Parish of Newburn was united with that of Largo at that time. One of the ways in which the Old Newburn Church was recognised by the united church was by the holding of open air services there on the Sunday closest to midsummer's day. The old ruined church is in a beautiful spot and is filled with interesting features and memorials - well worth paying a visit to.

Image credit: Ron Cosens    (www.cartedevisite.co.uk)

A previous post has covered in some detail the life of Reverend David Malloch, the long-serving minister of Largo St David's Church. The only photograph of this man that I had ever seen was the one of him as an older, white-haired, experienced clergyman. However, the above image of a younger Rev. Malloch has emerged from an unlikely source. Showing David as an eager-looking, new minister, this 'carte de visite' or CDV recently turned up from Canada. The image was captured by photographer John Patrick - the rear of the CDV bears his name and original Leven address of 71 High Street.

Below is a comparison of the young and the older David Malloch photographs. His facial features are unchanged and he clearly retained his thick wavy hair into older age. The St Andrews Citizen on 4 July 1896 commented that he was "conspicuous throughout the parish by his locks and shaven face, which seemed to savour more of art than the pulpit". 

​The Largo community would have seen this man evolve from the youthful, dark-haired incomer in 1860 into the mature and seasoned minister, over the 36 years that he "went out and in among them, speaking words in season to the weary, and comforting the afflicted". He would have officiated at many a wedding and funeral, delivered hundreds of sermons and given both sympathy and encouragement to people of all ages. The memorial to him within St David's Church, placed in 1900, reflects the esteem in which he was held by his congregation and beyond.

The previous post ended with the centenary of the Largo Baptist Church building in 1967, when Rev. Edgar Gledhill was minister. Rev. Gledhill left his position at Largo on 9 January 1972 to become careers master at Heriot Watt University. The following nine month vacancy was ended with the appointment of Rev. Joseph K. Campbell, who made the move to Largo from South Shields.

During Rev. Campbell's time at Largo, a new electric organ was given to the church by Miss Annie Guthrie (in 1974), replacing the long-used reed organ. Also in 1985 he was part of the joint celebrations, with Largo and Newburn Parish Church and Largo St David's Church, to mark 1100 years of Christian worship in Largo. The photograph below from the 1 May 1985 East Fife Mail shows the ministers of all three Largo churches at a service of thanksgiving and dedication at Largo Kirk.​

In 1987, with the retirement of Rev. Campbell and a dwindling membership, the 'History of the Largo Baptist Church: Centenary 1867-1967' by John Wishart notes that the remaining members "resolved to discontinue the services of the church". Services ceased and both the church and the manse were put up for sale. While the manse was eventually sold in 1988, a buyer was not forthcoming for the church building itself. There the story of Largo Baptist Church could have ended.

However, an unexpected new chapter was in fact about to begin. The thriving Baptist Church in Leven (itself originally established as an off-shoot of Largo Baptist Church in 1892) had a number of members living in the Largo area, some of whom were very interested in reviving the Largo Church. To test the water, the Leven congregation held a number of summer services at Largo in 1988. These were received positively and so further services were planned, a committee was set up and the 'Largo-Lundie Baptist Fellowship' was created. Monthly services were held between 1989 and 1992. However, these mostly had to be held in the Montrave Hall in Lundin Links due to issues with the heating system in the church building itself.

In 1991, after much consideration over the best venue for the now well-established fellowship, a refurbishment of the Largo Baptist Church building went ahead, including improvements to the heating and the installation of a new pulpit and communion table. A re-opening ceremony took place on Saturday 4th April 1992, which was attended by almost 100 people. The photograph below from the East Fife Mail shows the key individuals involved in the re-establishment of the church.
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In January 1994, a student pastor was offered to the church - David Vogan, a former Salvation Army Officer who was studying at the Scottish Baptist College. He qualified the following year, becoming Rev. David Vogan. Also in 1995, Largo Baptist Church was formally reconstituted and received back into the Baptist Union. David Vogan stayed until early in the year 2000, which is also where the booklet documenting the church history ends.

While the church continued for some years beyond that, the building has been largely unused in recent times. Issues such as a lack of disabled access, inadequate toilet facilities, limited parking and unsatisfactory fire safety provision have become significant constraints for its continuation as a modern church. With the future of the 150-year-old-building uncertain, we finish off this series with a selection of images of the interior of Largo Baptist Church - courtesy of the 'Places of Worship in Scotland' website.
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Following on from part one and part two of the abridged history of the Largo Baptist Church, we turn to the era just after the two local Baptist churches had reunited as one in 1927, after a sixty year separation. Now all together under one roof at the church located at the Orry, a stained glass window was put in to remember the 'Old Scotch Baptists' who were active for a century and a half in Largo (1778-1927).

When Rev. William Pulford retired after 36 years as minister at the church in 1929, there was a brief vacancy before Rev. James Macavoy (pictured above, 29 May 1930 Courier) was appointed. He hailed from Aughtonpark near Southport and had worked in Liverpool and Forfar before coming to Largo. His wife had been a missionary in China for five years. The pair remained until 1933. The next minister was Rev. John Turnbull from Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire, who was inducted in February 1934 . On 31 May the same year, he married Hilda Pearson McGill (the wedding photo below featured in the Fife News Almanac of the following year).

Turnbull left in 1939, with Rev. Somerled McMillian (moving from a church in Kirkcaldy) being inducted on 17 December that same year. He remained throughout the years of World War Two. Rev. John E. Thomas followed and then Rev. S Jeffries Bonney. By 1950 membership was low and many of those were elderly. A meeting was called to consider the future of the fellowship and the conclusion reached that the church should close. However, just days later, and with a petition signed by the majority of remaining members, the minute of that meeting was rescinded.

Largo Baptist Church was saved from closure and when Rev. Bonney left a couple of years later, the Rev. Henry Turner came out of retirement to become minister and stayed for the remainder of the 1950s. The new decade ushered in a new spell of stability. Rev. Edgar Gledhill began a twelve year appointment when he arrived in 1960. He had been a Religious Education teacher at Buckhaven High School.

During Rev. Gledhill's tenure the church building was redecorated and the heating system upgraded from solid fuel to electric. In 1967, the centenary of the building was marked with special services and socials. The image below is from the 31 May 1967 East Fife Mail. The celebrations were combined with the Fife Baptist Association's spring conference and brought visitors from across the county. To be continued....
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The previous post looked at the beginnings of Largo Baptist Church and its evolution up to circa 1880. At that point there were actually two Baptist Churches in Lower Largo. The traditionalists that met in the Baptist Meeting House (known as West Baptist Chapel at the time) close to the Crusoe Hotel (pictured above in September 1966) and the more modern group that met in the church at the Orry, which they had built in 1867. The two groups co-existed between 1867 and 1927. Below is the list of ministers of the modern church at the Orry. Alexander Brown served for thirteen years up until 1881 but thereafter followed a series of brief appointments. In 1892, church membership was healthy and those members that resided in Leven felt it appropriate to create a new church based there. Rev. Alexander Piggot, left to lead this new church (which became the present Leven Baptist Church). After a short vacancy, the Reverend William Pulford arrived in 1893 and stayed for 36 years.

William Pulford studied theology at Bristol University and spent four years at Ford Forge in Northumberland before coming to Largo in 1893.  That same year, a porch was added to the main Largo church building at the Orry (shown in the image below). Initially, Rev. Pulford and his wife Alice were tenants at a Burnbrae Terrace property owned by Euphemia Philp. However, following the birth of their daughter Beatrice in 1894 and their son William in 1896, they moved to 'Frithville' close to the Orry, staying there for a few years. Subsequently, they lived at Anchorage further east, next to Craigiebank, for over a decade. Sadly, their son died in 1904 aged 7. Another son, Wilfred, was born in 1906. 

Around the end of the First World War, with the church building reaching its half century and William Pulford having been in post for 25 years, it was decided that the church needed its own manse. The notices below date from the 10 February 1921 and 7 July 1921 Leven Advertiser and Wemyss Gazettes and show that fund raising had begun at this time for the 'Largo Baptist Manse Fund'.  ​

The fund raising effort lasted several years, extending beyond the actual building of the detached bungalow at Drummochy, adjacent to the Net House in 1924. The house is shown in the 1970s image below to the right of centre behind the Net House wall (by which time two dormer windows and upstairs rooms had been added). The manse is shown from Drummochy Road in more recent times further below and also from the beach. In August 1927, a sale of work was held to wipe out the remaining debt on the manse fund. Meanwhile, also in 1927, pastor of the other baptist church, the West Baptist Chapel, retired grocer John Marr of Upper Largo, died aged 83. This event ultimately led to the two baptist churches reuniting as one again (based in the 'new' church at the Orry).