Under the proposals, two of the four churches that make up the parish would be sold off and the income used to build a community parish centre in the heart of Ladybank.

The future of the churches in Ladybank and Kettle has been uncertain since it was learned earlier this year that the cost of repairs could reach £1 million.

Now a consultant appointed by the congregation's trustees and the Church of Scotland has suggested that the solution could lie in selling both buildings for 'sensitive' conversion to residential use.

The cash raised could pay for a new building, ideally on land owned by Fife Council at Coronation Park, near the railway station.

However, the consultant envisaged that the other two churches at Collessie and Cults would be retained and would continue to be used for ecclesiastical purposes.

While all four buildings are listed, Collessie and Cults are considered to be of more historic interest and it has been suggested that their potential could be explored in terms of entering a partnership arrangement with a body such as the Arts Trust, a move that would generate further income for the parish.

The parish's interim minister, the Rev. Gordon McCracken, explained this week that a full report was expected within the next few weeks and its findings would be shared with the congregation and other members of the community at a meeting to be held in late January or early February.

Read more in this week's Fife Herald.