Newburn Parish Church

 Canmore Collection   http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1579039

The image of Newburn Parish Church above was captured in October 1963, at which point the church had been closed for almost three years. The church building was the design of Largo architect Alexander Leslie and was completed in 1815. The design follows a traditional Scottish post-Reformation layout. The panelled pulpit, flanked by tall Gothic arched windows, was centrally located on one side of a rectangular hall. Galleries filled the other three sides (see photograph below). The session room was behind the pulpit at ground level (and can be seen front and centre in the image above). A small bell tower and spire is attached to the eastern end of the building. 

Canmore Collection http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1579049

Alexander Leslie designed several churches in Fife, including Ceres (1806) and Kilrenny (1807) and he was also responsible for the 1816 incorporation of Largo Parish Church's earlier tower and chancel into the cruciform church we see today.  Born in 1754, Alexander was the son of Largo wright and cabinet maker Robert Leslie (1723-1804) and his wife Anne Carstairs. Alexander Leslie died in 1835, and is buried at Largo Churchyard, alongside his parents and younger brother Sir John Leslie (1766-1832). 
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Now a listed building, the 1815 Newburn Church is described as follows:

Simple rectangular-plan Gothic church, with 2-stage square tower to east. Whin rubble, with yellow ashlar long and short dressings: upper stage of tower is ashlar; pointed and hood-moulded belfry opening to each face, corbelled and crenellated parapet and faceted spire. Symmetrical south elevation: glazed former doors to outer bays, low centrally placed piend-roofed projecting vestry, below 2 blind quatrefoil panels and flanked by 2 tall windows: all openings pointed-headed and hood-moulded with intersecting tracery. Piended slate roof with single central stack. North elevation: symmetry lost by insertion of 1 door and window, pointed window with intersecting tracery to each outer bay group of 4 symmetrical centre windows to ground and former gallery. Slated roof. 
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The 1815 Church replaced the Parish's earlier church (pictured above) which has a history dating back centuries. Part of the original structure was dedicated by Bishop Bernham in 1243. Newburn Old Parish Church was eventually considered too small and outdated, and fell out of use upon completion of the new building. The new church was much more commodious and was fitted out with many box pews (shown below in another image from the Canmore Collection). Upon its opening there were 180 people on the communion roll.
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The centre pews shown above had moveable divisions which were withdrawn for the celebration of the Sacrament - see photograph below from the book 'The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches 1560-1843' by George Hay (1957). 
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After over a century and a half of use, de-population of the catchment area saw attendance levels at the 'new' church fall. That situation, combined with the retirement of minister Reverend George Frederick Cox in June 1958, led to the congregation uniting with Largo later that year. The 3 September 1958 Leven Mail (above) reported on the approval of the decision to unite.

The joint charge became known as Largo and Newburn Parish Church. For a couple of years, a Sunday service took place each church. The notice below for example shows the two Christmas Day services in 1960, with an 11am service at Largo followed by a 12:30 service at Newburn. The full closure of Newburn Church came that New Year with the final service taking place at Newburn Church on 8 January 1961. Further below is a piece from 4 January 1961 Leven Mail.

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The following week's Leven Mail reported on the "big turn-out" for the final service where the "pews were packed to capacity". While there would no longer be a church in Newburn Parish, the building itself would soon embark upon a new chapter and there will be more about that in the next post.
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Footnote: On 15 November 2017, Largo Parish Church came into being as the result of a union between Largo and Newburn and Largo St David’s churches. The above church sign predates that union.