A congregational meeting at Ladybank Church on January 9 will hear from an ad hoc committee that has been considering the future of the parish.

The committee, led by Wormit and Balmerino minister Rev. Jim Connolly, was set up after the Howe of Fife charge became vacant several months ago.

Howe of Fife comprises four places of worship — Kingskettle, Collessie, Ladybank and Cults Kirk in Pitlessie.

Interim moderator Rev. John Murdoch said it was not unusual for an ad hoc committee to be formed to examine a parish when a vacancy occurred.

An informal discussion among Collessie members, reported in the Fife Herald, raised fears the Collessie church may be closed because of the vacancy and the "rather dire finances parishwide".

The discussion, led by Collessie resident and Howe of Fife Parish Congregational Board member Andrew McCafferty, felt the congregation should be consulted about the situation.

But a Church of Scotland spokesman, speaking on behalf of St Andrews Presbytery, said some people had "the wrong end of the stick" if they felt there was a rush to close buildings.

"That is certainly not on the cards at the moment," he said.

"There's no proposal on the table for any of the four buildings to be closed."

The spokesman encouraged Howe of Fife members to attend the January meeting and discuss the parish's situation.

Mr McCafferty said Collessie had only a small congregation, but the church, on a site that had been a place of worship for some 800 years, remained an important part of the village.

"I am heartened to hear there is going to be a dialogue with the parishioners and the congregation," he said.