(Image: J.E.Taylor)
A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to safeguard the future of one of the oldest surviving churches in Scotland.
St Monans Auld Kirk, which sits on a rocky bank directly above the Firth of Forth to the south west of the village of St Monans in Fife, was built around 1370 as a Roman Catholic shrine by King David II Bruce for Saint Monan. Its origins as a religious site date from the ninth century.
It ceased being used by the local congregation in 2022, when the Church of Scotland finalised Presbytery Plans to sell off 400 churches across Scotland.
The St Monans Community Council set plans for community ownership and in December of 2025 the Auld Kirk officially came under the ownership of the community of St Monans and Abercrombie after it was purchased by local charitable community organisation St Monans Auld Kirk Enterprise (SMAKE) with funding from the Scottish Land Fund.
Now locals, visitors and supporters of the Auld Kirk are being invited to help retain the building as a community asset.
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Though now open to the public on a daily basis, SMAKE say the building is in "desperate" need of urgent repairs - including replacing deteriorated stonework, structural remediation to the unsafe spiral stair and high-level roof works - to ensure it remains watertight and stands strong for many years to come.
Plans have also been drawn up to significantly improve the accessibility, flexibility and energy efficiency of the Kirk, all whilst retaining its incredible historic features.
The proposals - including accessible WCs and a multifunctional kitchen - will bring about a new phase for this much-loved building as a community hub with a café, providing a venue for special life events, conferences, conferences and more.
SMAKE say that, thanks to promises of major funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland, the work is now within reach.
If Match Funding of £100,000 can be raised by Christmas, it will release £2.2 million in promised support and allow the repair and upgrade works to proceed.
SMAKE hopes that anyone with a connection to St Monans, whether they live locally, have family ties to the village or simply enjoy visiting the Kirk, can help make a practical contribution to its future by visiting: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/stmonansauldkirk#
A spokesperson for SMAKE said: "Every donation, no matter its size, will help the campaign move closer to its fundraising goal and secure the future of one of Scotland’s most spectacular historic buildings."