£480,000 restoration plan for historic Fife church tower

The tower at Kirkcaldy’s Old Kirk is the focus of a £480,000 restoration plan, and drawings and a model outlining the proposed work can be seen on Saturday.

They will be on display in the Mercat Shopping Centre from 10:00am until 2:30pm to get the public’s feedback.

The tower has stood looking over the harbour and the hustle and bustle of the High Street since the 15th century.

It would have been a familiar sight to historic names such as Adam Smith, Robert Adam, Sandford Fleming, and Michael Nairn.

Now it is need of some some TLC to ensure it is fit for the next 500 years.

The roof is leaking roof and window panes blown out by the winter storms need attention.

The trust which took over the running of the church in 2011 is hoping local people rally round their fundraising plans

.“The townsfolk – and further afield - supported us magnificently when we first opened the Kirk to the community in 2011,” said Rosemary Potter, who chairs the trust.

“We have since built up a community venue which fulfils the Old Kirk’s historic purpose of community service and worship and we hope, proves the public trust in our venture is well-founded.

Now we are seeking support for this next important part of Kirkcaldy’s heritage : the iconic tower, the oldest building in town in continuous use.”

On Saturday, the drawings of the plans to repair the tower will go on show, and trustees and architects will be on hand to hear your views and answer questions.

The trust views the community consultation is hugely important to potential funders of the ambitious £480,000 restoration project - they want to be assured the people of Kirkcaldy approve of the plans and support its efforts to keep the tower open for visitors and townsfolk to enjoy the panoramic view.

A ‘Sponsor A -Step’ scheme for the 100 steps to the bell, and a generous legacy, have raised over £13,000 to get the ball rolling.

On Sunday, the kirk’s 775th anniversary concert will add further funds to the pot.

The evening will bring music from all periods of the tower's history built around its story "From Sea to Sky" - a piece specially written by the late Bruce Fraser forthe Old Kirk in 2014.

Fife singers from any choir - or no choir - can take part. Rehearsals ed by Alistair Digges, start on Sunday morning at 10:00am until 5:00pm in time to prepare for the concert. Singers are asked to contribute £5 towards the cost of the music and heating the Kirk. More details from Rosemary Potter (01592 265499) or [email protected]

The tower has stood witness to centuries of Kirkcaldy’s history.

In 1633 a witch was kept there until her execution with her husband for "drowning sailors".

In 1723 the infant Adam Smith was carried in through the tower to his baptism by his doting mother, who would be a strong influence on her son in the years ahead as he wrote his famous works of philosophy and economics in her Kirkcaldy home in sight of the tower.

On May 1 each year at 6:00am a tradition of at least 130 years is continued as folk ascend the tower to sing Easter songs to the sea and the land from the parapet to greet the Spring.

More recently, in 1986 vandals broke into the Old Kirk and set fire to it, destroying two of the oldest stained glass windows.

The replacement "Windows of Fire" by John Clark now light up the church superbly and the model of the tower, created to commemorate that incident, will be in the Mercat on Saturday.

Not only can you view its details - you will be able to light it up, ring the bell and play the organ, courtesy of Andrew Bowie and his Peachy Keen team. All that will be required is a bit of effort - on a bike or on a handcrank!