A brief history of the Churches within our Parish

There has been a history of Christian worship within our parish since before the Reformation. Early maps indicate the Priests Knowe, Chapel Steen and Chapel Burn on the bents and Golf Course, East of Rosehearty. These probably indicate the site of a Culldee Chapel, a branch of the early Celtic, rather than Roman Catholic Church. The foundations of this chapel were completely covered in sand by 1858. Although for several years their outline could be seen in parched summer grass they have now completely vanished.

According to tradition, the creation of Pitsligo Parish (officially on 28th June 1633 by an act of the Scottish Parliament which disjoined Pitsligo from Aberdour) came about as  a result of a ranting sermon preached by the minister of New Aberdour in the presence of Lord Pitsligo. The sermon denounced ‘the three Pits of Hell, Pittullie, Pittendrum and Pitsligo’. Lord Pitsligo was so enraged by this that he stormed out of the kirk and resolved to build his own church.

Lord Pitsligo built the original parish church at Peathill around 1635. The west gable was surmounted by an elaborate birdcage belfry said to have been imported from Holland and first assembled in the courtyard of Pitsligo Castle.

The simple church contained a wondrous, richly carved laird`s loft, the Pitsligo Aisle.

In 1890, after many years of dispute between the minister, Rev. Walter Gregor and the heritors, the original parish church was replaced. The Pitsligo Pew and several carved wooden panels were relocated in the neighbouring new church. This church remained in use until its closure on 21st September 1997.

Rosehearty Church, now the sole place of worship in the parish, was originally a United Presbyterian Church. A remarkable early photograph shows the laying of the foundation stone on 6th July 1882.

The ‘Red Kirkie’ in Loch Street, was built within months of the 1834 disruption which split the dissenting Free Church of Scotland from the Church of Scotland.

In 1900 the United Presbyterian Church nationally united with the Free Church to become the United Free Church of Scotland. Then, in 1929, the United Free Church officially united with the Church of Scotland. There were already informal links between the two congregations in Rosehearty and the tradition of Free Church worship in the burgh was now finally ended. When Peathill Church closed on 21st September 1997 Rosehearty Church became the only church building in use in the parish.

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