Largo Baptist Church - Part 3

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just days later, and with a petition signed by the majority of remaining members, the minute of that meeting was rescinded.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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