Announcing that the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh – which includes St Agatha's in Methil and St Giles in Kennoway – has been awarded Fairtrade status by the Fairtrade Foundation, Cardinal O'Brien said: "The importance of a commitment to Fairtrade cannot be overemphasised.

"How we live our lives as Christians must involve justice and equity.

We have a duty to use our power as consumers and using Fairtrade products is a practical and easy way to do this."

Cardinal O'Brien, who has visited many countries overseas and has seen at first hand how Fairtrade has brought real improvements to the lives of farmers, added: "Fairtrade guarantees a better deal for Third World producers by giving them a fair price for their produce. One that they can actually live on."

The Archdiocese launched the bid to gain Fairtrade certification just over a year ago.

There are now over 50 parishes all supporting Fairtrade with stalls, and events including fashion shows, coffee mornings and wine tastings.

The parishes in the Fife which took part were: Chapel Royal, Falkland; St Marie's, Kirkcaldy; St Peter in Chains, Inverkeithing; St John and St Columba, Rosyth; Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunfermline; St Patrick's, Lochgelly; St Paul and St Mary, Mother of God, Glenrothes; St Agatha's, Methil and St Giles', Kennoway.