VINTAGE LUNDIN LINKS AND LARGO
  • Blog

Largo Baptist Church - Beginnings

1/5/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Although the present Largo Baptist Church building was not constructed until 1867, the origins of the Largo Baptists go back to at least the late eighteenth century and the days of Dr John Goodsir (depicted above in an engraving by WIlliam Coutts). As detailed in a previous post, Dr Goodsir was in medical practice in Largo for almost half a century. For over twenty years, he also fulfilled the role of Pastor at Largo's Baptist Church. The history of the Church was documented in 1967 by John Wishart (then the church secretary) in his 'History of the Largo Baptist Church: Centenary 1867-1967' which was subsequently edited and updated in 2000 by Arthur Gibbs. 

A group of Baptists started meeting in Largo from around 1778 but it was not until 1790 that Dr Goodsir, along with Thomas Paterson became joint pastors of a more formalised church. Both men were already lay preachers. Goodsir had been part of various churches in his earlier life but in 1789 he became a Baptist. It would appear that he gave his services free and largely unassisted for around 25 years until his death in 1816.

Picture
In the Old Statistical Account of Scotland 1792, Rev. Spence Oliphant wrote the account for the Parish of Largo and detailed the clergy in Largo at that time. The two Anabaptists noted are Goodsir and Paterson (see above and below extracts from Leven Advertiser and Wemyss Gazette 7 December 1905).

Picture
In 1809, Goodsir acquired the building that became known as 'The Old Baptist Meeting House' close to the Crusoe Hotel on Main Street (now Castaway Cottage). This building is shown as it was in 1986 (just prior to it being sold off by the church) in the photograph below. The mid-1970s image further below is from the Canmore archives. Prior to the use of this venue, the group had been meeting in a long-gone old dilapidated structure.
​
Picture
Picture
Between 1816 and 1845 there were two pastors. Firstly, James Dick, a shoemaker from Elie and then James Murray, an Earlsferry weaver, who died in 1845. From then until 1867 the church was led by William Kellock (of Durie) and John Kellock (of Lundin Mill). The latter died in 1878 - see death notice in 29 August Fife Herald). In 1867 the church became divided over the question of open or closed communion and a number of members broke away to set up their own congregation, which initially met in the Old Durham School at the Temple. Other, mostly older, members continued to meet in the old meeting house, under the leadership of John Marr of Upper Largo (and later his son John).

Picture
Meanwhile, the more modern, and largely younger, breakaway group instigated the building of the 'new church' (i.e. the present Largo Baptist Church) on the site at the Orry. Its first long term minister - Alexander Brown from Rutherglen - led from 1868 until 1881. The story will pick up from there in the next blog post....
1 Comment
John Band
1/5/2020 11:16:46 am

Very interesting post. I wonder if the next part will provide a build date and first occupant of the Baptist Manse? ie the older of the houses between the Net House and Drummochy Road, the one adjacent to the grassy lane to the West end access to the Net House.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    About

    This blog is about the history of the villages of Lundin Links, Lower Largo and Upper Largo in Fife, Scotland. Comments and contributions from readers are very welcome!

    Search

    There is no in-built search facility on this site. To search for content, go to Google and type your search words followed by "lundin weebly".

    Contact

    Categories

    All
    Antiquities
    Beach
    Boarding Houses
    Business
    Churches
    Clubs And Societies
    Drummochy
    Facilities
    Farming
    Fishing
    Golf
    Houses
    Keil's Den
    Largo Law
    Lower Largo
    Masseney Braes
    New Gilston
    People
    Railway
    School
    Shops
    Standing Stanes
    Streets
    Tourism
    Upper Largo
    Viaduct
    War

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Links

    Largo Baywatch Blog
    Fife Family History Society
    ​
    Polish Parachute Brigade Info​

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.