Dairsie Old Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dairsie Old Church |
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Dairsie Church in the late 19th century, engraved by R W Billings
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| Location | Dairsie, Fife, Scotland GB grid reference NO413161 |
| Built | 1621 |
| Built for | John Spottiswoode |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Official name: Dairsie Old Church (St Mary's) | |
| Designated | 1 March 1984 |
| Reference no. | LB2610 |
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Dairsie Old Church, also known as St Mary's Church, is an old church building in Dairsie, a village in north-east Fife, Scotland. It stands about 1.2 kilometers south of Dairsie village. This church was built in 1621. It is a special example of Gothic architecture from after the Scottish Reformation. The church is no longer used for services. It is protected as a Category A listed building, which means it is a very important historical site.
Contents
The History of Dairsie Old Church
Early Beginnings of the Church
Records show that a church existed in Dairsie as early as 1183. Around the year 1300, the church was given to the Convent of St Andrews. It is possible that the church building was rebuilt around this time.
Building the Current Church in 1621
The church building you see today was constructed in 1621. It was built by John Spottiswoode (1565–1639). He was the Archbishop of St Andrews. Archbishop Spottiswoode had recently bought Dairsie Castle, which is next to the church. You can see the Spottiswoode family crest carved above the west door of the church. It also has John Spottiswoode's initials.
Changes Over the Years
In the late 1700s, the church's original flat roof was replaced. It was changed to the current piend or hipped roof. This type of roof slopes down on all four sides. A big renovation happened between 1835 and 1837. This included changes to the inside of the church. However, most of these changes have since been removed.
When the Church Stopped Being Used
The church stopped being used for regular services in 1966. The people who used to worship there now go to the former Free Church. This church is located in Dairsie village.
