The origins of the Largo St David's Church, which sits on Lower Largo's Main Street, date back to 1768. Prior to then, Largo Kirk in Upper Largo was the main place of worship for the Parish. Disagreement over the selection of a new minister in 1768 led to a group of dissenters leaving Largo Kirk and meeting in open air as an independent church. This new group, though limited in money and resources, were granted land on which to build by Mr Durham.
In 1884 a letter was written to the editor of the Dundee Courier, signed "A United Presbyterian Member", and published on 15th November, which relays a tale of the building of the church around 1771, stating...
"men, women and children were alike zealous, and when the masons towards the end of their day's labours left off their work for the want of material, they were often surprised next morning to find an abundant supply - the men with barrows, the women with their aprons, and children with creels, having procured it for them overnight from the beach which skirts the village."
The original church stood just east of the present building but eventually became too small and no doubt too run-down. The existing church was built 1871-72 and was opened on 17th July 1872. I've never seen an image or sketch of the old church - if you have seen one, please comment. The postcard below shows the church just visible above the shore-front houses to the left of centre. It seems to have lost the very top part of its frontage in more recent times compared to this postcard view. If you know what happened, please get in touch.
In 1884 a letter was written to the editor of the Dundee Courier, signed "A United Presbyterian Member", and published on 15th November, which relays a tale of the building of the church around 1771, stating...
"men, women and children were alike zealous, and when the masons towards the end of their day's labours left off their work for the want of material, they were often surprised next morning to find an abundant supply - the men with barrows, the women with their aprons, and children with creels, having procured it for them overnight from the beach which skirts the village."
The original church stood just east of the present building but eventually became too small and no doubt too run-down. The existing church was built 1871-72 and was opened on 17th July 1872. I've never seen an image or sketch of the old church - if you have seen one, please comment. The postcard below shows the church just visible above the shore-front houses to the left of centre. It seems to have lost the very top part of its frontage in more recent times compared to this postcard view. If you know what happened, please get in touch.
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