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Balmerino Parish Church

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In 1816 a manse was constructed to the west of the church on the other side of the road on what was then a gravel pit. The ground it was built on required soil to be carried from the former manse to the new one for its construction. The site was chosen by reverends Andrew Thomson and Thomas Chalmers.
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On the platform in front of the pulpit a communion table, a font, and an extravagantly designed chair were placed. With the pulpit now on the east end opposite the entrance, the pews were each made to sit in rows perpendicular to the north and south walls facing eastwards. The pew area was made to
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The gallery was removed and replaced by one in the west end so that a new pulpit could be placed in the east end. The new pulpit, of "handsome design", was built with panels on each side containing text. Behind the pulpit, to each side, two new mosaic windows were built on the east wall.
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Two passages were added between the pews, leading from the entrance to the pulpit. The bell in the belfry, which was previously operable only from the outside, could now be rung from a chamber in the wall above the door at the entrance.
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Opposite the two south doors were doors on the north wall, both of which led upstairs to the gallery. The gallery was lit by the windows above the south doors as well as two square-headed windows on each
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around the beginning of the 17th century: according to one source in 1595 and in 1611 according to another. This church was used by the parishioners until the construction of the current church in 1811.
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The square-headed window in the east gable was replaced with a round window made of "ornate tinted glass in geometrical patterns". The other windows were replaced with tinted cathedral glass with
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in his late twenties and early thirties, gave services to Balmerino parish during the new parish church's construction. Here he is painted in his later years with his grandson Thomas (front).
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John Thomson was the fifteenth minister of Balmerino, succeeding his father Andrew Thomson. John Thomson authored the second statistical account of Balmerino in the
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was added to the north face of the church. In 1887 a hall with a capacity of 210 people was subsequently added to the north of the original vestry for use as a
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Services alternated weekly between the two churches until the Gauldry church's closure in 2019. Since then, services have been held solely at Balmerino.
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James A. Campbell succeeded John Thomson in 1857 as the sixteenth minister of Balmerino parish. Prior to this, he had served as chaplain to the
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which spanned nearly the full length of the church. The gallery, the front of which was a half oval, spanned the full length of the church.
603:. The book, which was updated with a newer edition published in 1899, is the most complete historical work to cover the parish's history. 58:
Before the construction of the church, numerous churches were used in the parish. The immediate predecessor was a church constructed in
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On the south wall of the church sat two doors: one on the east end and one on the west end. Above these doors were windows.
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in the period of 1834 to 1845. He served as minister for 33 years until his death on 22 May 1857 at the age of 61.
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The church was constructed in 1811 with a capacity of 400 people. The ground it was built on was then a moor.
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was added above the church on the west side. The bell was operable from the path at this end of the church.
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The tombstones of James Campbell (left) and his wife Jane (right), located in Balmerino cemetery.
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Andrew Thomson was the author of the first statistical account of Balmerino in the famous
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The church was opened on 17 November 1811 by Dr George Campbell, the minister of
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Balmerino and Its Abbey: A Parish History with Notices of the Adjacent District
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During the construction of the church, the parishioners attended the church in
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was built in the middle of the south wall. In front of the pulpit sat the
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Much of the history of Balmerino parish was collected in his 1867 book
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In 1883, upon the church's reopening, the church's choir was formed.
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The original layout differed greatly from the present layout. The
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where services were alternated weekly between the two ministers.
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now present in the church was also started at this time when a
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The tombstone of John Thomson, located in Balmerino cemetery.
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renovated the church, changing the layout drastically.
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In 1937, the church merged with the church in nearby
562:documenting the parishes of Scotland in the 1790s. 96: 231: 664:"Our Churches | Wormit Parish Church of Scotland" 199:extend from the west end to the communion table. 23:Front view of Balmerino Parish Church, west side. 1138:19th-century Church of Scotland church buildings 1109: 250: 601:Balmerino And Its Abbey: A Parochial History 210:added to the front ones on the west gable. 175:The vestry on the north face of the church. 578:General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 240:which had, prior to this, belonged to the 146:. The first Psalm sung in his service was 874:"Union of Balmerino and Gauldry churches" 722: 178: 170: 157: 80: 18: 1123:Church of Scotland churches in Scotland 1110: 576:, an updated account published by the 127:, on the east and west of the church. 718: 716: 714: 712: 710: 708: 706: 704: 256:List of ministers of Balmerino parish 702: 700: 698: 696: 694: 692: 690: 688: 686: 684: 583: 573:New Statistical Account of Scotland 13: 1003:"Statistical Accounts of Scotland" 978:"Statistical Accounts of Scotland" 14: 1149: 681: 547: 187:In 1883 and 1884, the architects 741:"BALMERINO PARISH KIRK (LB2529)" 620: 608: 97:Construction and original layout 1128:1811 establishments in Scotland 1046: 1020: 995: 970: 944: 918: 828:from the original on 8 May 2021 565: 555:Statistical Account of Scotland 232:Unification with Gauldry church 1054:"Death of noted Fife minister" 892: 866: 840: 810: 784: 758: 733: 656: 242:United Free Church of Scotland 105:trees were planted around it. 1: 854:. 27 December 1907. p. 7 798:. 20 November 1937. p. 6 745:Historic Environment Scotland 649: 251:Ministers of Balmerino Parish 183:The south face of the church. 166: 952:"Balmerino Church induction" 880:. 23 October 1937. p. 6 560:Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster 88:(back), who was minister of 7: 632: 10: 1154: 1133:Churches completed in 1811 958:. 31 March 1938. p. 6 772:. 9 August 1884. p. 4 521:Died 25 June 1937 aged 56 137: 53: 1060:. 29 June 1914. p. 6 932:. 28 June 1937. p. 1 541: 525: 16:Parish church in Scotland 1034:. 28 May 1857. p. 3 1007:Edinburgh University DRS 956:Dundee Evening Telegraph 906:. 3 July 1937. p. 6 904:Dundee Evening Telegraph 878:Dundee Evening Telegraph 848:"New Fifeshire minister" 796:Dundee Evening Telegraph 723:Campbell, James (1899). 982:stataccscot.edina.ac.uk 298:Mentioned 1571 to 1576 150:. He proceeded to read 28:Balmerino Parish Church 558:, a work published by 502:Peter Campbell Millar 184: 176: 93: 24: 515:William J. McFarland 182: 174: 158:Construction of manse 84: 78:, preached the other. 50:constructed in 1816. 22: 1094:56.40895°N 3.02468°W 822:Wormit Parish Church 668:Wormit Parish Church 213:Construction of the 86:Rev. Thomas Chalmers 1090: /  930:Belfast News-Letter 292:Patrick Auchinleck 1099:56.40895; -3.02468 476:James A. Campbell 185: 177: 94: 32:Church of Scotland 25: 584:James A. Campbell 545: 544: 479:10 December 1857 372:John Auchterlony 34:parish church in 1145: 1118:Churches in Fife 1105: 1104: 1102: 1101: 1100: 1095: 1091: 1088: 1087: 1086: 1083: 1070: 1069: 1067: 1065: 1050: 1044: 1043: 1041: 1039: 1024: 1018: 1017: 1015: 1013: 999: 993: 992: 990: 988: 974: 968: 967: 965: 963: 948: 942: 941: 939: 937: 922: 916: 915: 913: 911: 896: 890: 889: 887: 885: 870: 864: 863: 861: 859: 844: 838: 837: 835: 833: 814: 808: 807: 805: 803: 788: 782: 781: 779: 777: 762: 756: 755: 753: 751: 737: 731: 730: 720: 679: 678: 676: 674: 660: 624: 612: 590:Highland Brigade 532:R. P. Constable 279:Archibald Keith 260: 259: 189:C. & L. Ower 1153: 1152: 1148: 1147: 1146: 1144: 1143: 1142: 1108: 1107: 1098: 1096: 1092: 1089: 1084: 1081: 1079: 1077: 1076: 1074: 1073: 1063: 1061: 1052: 1051: 1047: 1037: 1035: 1026: 1025: 1021: 1011: 1009: 1001: 1000: 996: 986: 984: 976: 975: 971: 961: 959: 950: 949: 945: 935: 933: 924: 923: 919: 909: 907: 898: 897: 893: 883: 881: 872: 871: 867: 857: 855: 846: 845: 841: 831: 829: 816: 815: 811: 801: 799: 790: 789: 785: 775: 773: 764: 763: 759: 749: 747: 739: 738: 734: 721: 682: 672: 670: 662: 661: 657: 652: 639:Thomas Chalmers 635: 628: 625: 616: 613: 586: 568: 550: 505:September 1920 489:John T. Arnott 450:Andrew Thomson 312:Mentioned 1578 306:Thomas Douglas 258: 253: 234: 169: 160: 140: 114:communion table 99: 72:Thomas Chalmers 56: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1151: 1141: 1140: 1135: 1130: 1125: 1120: 1072: 1071: 1058:Dundee Courier 1045: 1019: 994: 969: 943: 917: 891: 865: 852:Dundee Courier 839: 809: 783: 757: 732: 680: 654: 653: 651: 648: 647: 646: 644:Gauldry Church 641: 634: 631: 630: 629: 626: 619: 617: 614: 607: 585: 582: 567: 564: 549: 548:Andrew Thomson 546: 543: 542: 539: 538: 536: 535:31 March 1938 533: 530: 527: 526: 523: 522: 519: 516: 513: 509: 508: 506: 503: 500: 496: 495: 493: 492:December 1907 490: 487: 483: 482: 480: 477: 474: 470: 469: 467: 464: 461: 457: 456: 454: 451: 448: 444: 443: 441: 438: 435: 431: 430: 428: 425: 422: 418: 417: 415: 412: 409: 405: 404: 402: 399: 396: 392: 391: 389: 386: 383: 379: 378: 376: 373: 370: 366: 365: 363: 360: 357: 353: 352: 350: 347: 344: 340: 339: 337: 334: 331: 327: 326: 324: 321: 318: 314: 313: 310: 307: 304: 300: 299: 296: 293: 290: 286: 285: 283: 280: 277: 273: 272: 269: 266: 263: 257: 254: 252: 249: 233: 230: 168: 165: 159: 156: 139: 136: 98: 95: 55: 52: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1150: 1139: 1136: 1134: 1131: 1129: 1126: 1124: 1121: 1119: 1116: 1115: 1113: 1106: 1103: 1059: 1055: 1049: 1033: 1029: 1023: 1008: 1004: 998: 983: 979: 973: 957: 953: 947: 931: 927: 921: 905: 901: 895: 879: 875: 869: 853: 849: 843: 827: 823: 819: 813: 797: 793: 787: 771: 767: 761: 746: 742: 736: 728: 727: 719: 717: 715: 713: 711: 709: 707: 705: 703: 701: 699: 697: 695: 693: 691: 689: 687: 685: 669: 665: 659: 655: 645: 642: 640: 637: 636: 623: 618: 611: 606: 605: 604: 602: 597: 595: 591: 581: 579: 575: 574: 563: 561: 557: 556: 540: 537: 534: 531: 529: 528: 524: 520: 517: 514: 511: 510: 507: 504: 501: 498: 497: 494: 491: 488: 485: 484: 481: 478: 475: 472: 471: 468: 465: 463:John Thomson 462: 459: 458: 455: 452: 449: 446: 445: 442: 439: 436: 433: 432: 429: 426: 424:Thomas Stark 423: 420: 419: 416: 413: 410: 407: 406: 403: 400: 397: 394: 393: 390: 387: 385:Andrew Bowie 384: 381: 380: 377: 374: 371: 368: 367: 364: 361: 358: 355: 354: 351: 348: 346:James Gairns 345: 342: 341: 338: 335: 333:Andrew Bruce 332: 329: 328: 325: 322: 320:Walter Greig 319: 316: 315: 311: 308: 305: 302: 301: 297: 294: 291: 288: 287: 284: 281: 278: 275: 274: 270: 267: 264: 262: 261: 248: 245: 243: 239: 229: 226: 224: 223:Sunday school 220: 219:session house 216: 211: 209: 204: 200: 196: 192: 190: 181: 173: 164: 155: 153: 149: 145: 135: 133: 128: 126: 120: 117: 115: 111: 106: 104: 91: 87: 83: 79: 77: 73: 69: 64: 61: 51: 49: 45: 41: 37: 33: 29: 21: 1075: 1062:. 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Retrieved 667: 658: 600: 598: 587: 571: 569: 566:John Thomson 553: 551: 411:Thomas Kerr 246: 235: 227: 212: 205: 201: 197: 193: 186: 161: 141: 129: 121: 118: 107: 100: 65: 57: 27: 26: 1097: / 1032:Fife Herald 766:"Balmerino" 594:Crimean War 592:during the 437:John Stark 359:George Hay 36:Bottomcraig 1112:Categories 1082:56°24′32″N 650:References 398:James Hay 167:Renovation 1085:3°01′29″W 1064:12 August 1038:13 August 1012:12 August 987:12 August 962:13 August 936:12 August 910:11 August 884:12 August 858:14 August 832:12 August 802:12 August 776:14 August 770:Fife News 673:12 August 268:Admitted 152:Luke 8:18 148:Psalm 122 76:Balmerino 1028:"Deaths" 926:"Deaths" 826:Archived 633:See also 309:Unknown 295:Unknown 44:Scotland 238:Gauldry 208:tracery 138:Opening 90:Kilmany 68:Kilmany 60:Kirkton 54:History 750:23 May 271:Notes 215:vestry 132:belfry 110:pulpit 518:1926 466:1824 453:1782 440:1773 427:1742 414:1722 401:1696 388:1690 375:1682 362:1678 349:1676 336:1673 323:1621 282:1560 265:Name 144:Cupar 125:gable 103:Larch 48:manse 30:is a 1066:2022 1040:2022 1014:2022 989:2022 964:2022 938:2022 912:2022 886:2022 860:2022 834:2022 804:2022 778:2022 752:2023 675:2022 40:Fife 512:19 499:18 486:17 473:16 460:15 447:14 434:13 421:12 408:11 395:10 1114:: 1056:. 1030:. 1005:. 980:. 954:. 928:. 902:. 876:. 850:. 824:. 820:. 794:. 768:. 743:. 683:^ 666:. 596:. 382:9 369:8 356:7 343:6 330:5 317:4 303:3 289:2 276:1 244:. 225:. 154:. 130:A 42:, 38:, 1068:. 1042:. 1016:. 991:. 966:. 940:. 914:. 888:. 862:. 836:. 806:. 780:. 754:. 677:.

Index


Church of Scotland
Bottomcraig
Fife
Scotland
manse
Kirkton
Kilmany
Thomas Chalmers
Balmerino

Rev. Thomas Chalmers
Kilmany
Larch
pulpit
communion table
gable
belfry
Cupar
Psalm 122
Luke 8:18
The vestry, or sacristy, on the north face of Balmerino parish church.
The south face of the church, containing four mosaic windows and a belfry on top of the church to the left.
C. & L. Ower
tracery
vestry
session house
Sunday school
Gauldry
United Free Church of Scotland

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