The East Neuk of Fife Preservation Society (SCIO)
Newsletter - September 2026
ENFPS AGM and talk on St Monans Auld Kirk held at St Monans Church Hall 5 May
At our AGM office holders were confirmed in their posts, and retiring trustees were re-elected, with Martin Gorrie giving his treasurer’s report.
Peter Peddie, Chairman of St Monans Auld Kirk Enterprise (SMAKE) gave us a talk on their successful acquisition of this iconic historic building and on the design team’s imaginative plans team for its future. After answering members’ questions, Peter led a good number of us along to the Auld Kirk building where he explained its history and gave his thoughts on how its very fine organ could be re-configured to maximize space for events. Application forms for anyone interested in becoming a member of SMAKE were handed out at the meeting and are available from SMAKE on www.stmonansauldkirk.com.
ENFPS visit to Pittenweem 18 May
Well over 40 members attended the Society’s visit to some of Pittenweem’s historic buildings, with the party split into three groups to limit numbers at one time at each location, starting at the Gyles Community Centre at the harbourside, and ending there with our customary drinks and nibbles. Shown in this photograph is Margaret Lambie long term ENFPS committee member who sadly is no longer with us.
First stop on the tour was Gyles House now in its 400th year, where Bill Kennaway showed how the house has significantly changed over the centuries and explained artist John Henry Lorimer’s rescue of the building in the 1930s which was a precursor of the postwar conservation movement.
Members proceeded to the precinct of Pittenweem Priory where Prof Anthony Lodge expanded on the Society’s three interpretive panels that explain the history of the Priory and its surviving monastic buildings and of the post-Reformation Parish Church and Tolbooth.
On the High Street, ENFPS member Doreen Macintyre was our host for a tour of Kellie Lodging, and she explained the building’s history from a 16th century merchant’s house that became the townhouse of the Earls of Kellie, the probable original greater size of the building and its restoration by the National Trust for Scotland in the 1960s.
Doreen also told members of her illustrious recent predecessor owners of the building - actor John Cairney, and artist and art therapist Joyce Laing, best known for establishing the Barlinnie special unit, and one of the founders of Pittenweem Arts Festival.
ENFPS Kellie Castle Midsummer Evening 22 June – Hew Lorimer
Members enjoyed glorious weather for prosecco and delicious canapés on the lawn at our visit to Kellie Castle. Later upstairs in the Drawing Room we had a full house for an illustrated lecture by ENFPS member and Kellie Castle volunteer Ian Buchanan Smith.
Ian explained Hew Lorimer’s life and career as a sculptor, and described Lorimer’s key role in saving many of Fife’s historic buildings under the National Trust for Scotland’s Little Houses Improvements scheme.
Forthcoming visit to Fife Council’s Glenrothes Collections Centre 27 October
A return visit by ENFPS is planned next month to allow more members to view the historic Fife artefacts on display there.
An important reason for our visit is to view the three historic caqueteuse chairs that were held for decades in the Society’s St Monans office, and which are now properly displayed in the Centre along with explanatory notices on their historic significance.
This very large framed photograph of one of the Society’s caqueteuse chairs is now displayed in the window of our 5 Station Road office in St Monans and a similar very large framed photograph of another of our former chairs can be viewed in St Monans Heritage Collection, where it is on long term loan from the Society.
Another reason for our visit to the Collections Centre is to view Fife Council’s extraordinary collection of over 50 now extremely valuable Scottish Colourist paintings, many of which are from the estate of Kirkcaldy linen manufacturer John Blyth, grandfather of Michael Portillo. There is a limit of 15 on visitor numbers to the Collections Centre, hence please contact Jane Forbes to book a place. The Centre’s tours are held monthly and can be booked via www.onfife.com/visit-explore/museums-galleries/onfife-collections-centre/
Pittenweem – plaque for clockmaker John Smith
A blue plaque on 19 High Street now marks the building as the former residence of Scotland’s most ingenious clockmaker. The plaque was organized by Pittenweem Community Library, with research and fundraising by ENFPS member Hazel Mills.
Outside No 19 on Thursday 17 September, historian David Jones told guests about John Smith’s life and of the strong tradition of craftsmanship in the East Neuk, followed by Toby Anstruther’s unveiling of the plaque marking the latest stage of the Anstruther family’s connection with John Smith. Afterwards guests moved next door to Kellie Lodging where clockmaker and restorer Eric Young explained the two impressive Smith longcase clocks that had been kindly loaned for the occasion by an ENFPS member, and this was followed by a reception.
Elie Parish Church – the community group looking to take over the grade B listed church has set itself up as Elie Kirk Community Enterprise (EKCE), chaired by ENFPS Elie representative Alastair Graham. EKCR commissioned a Viability Appraisal and an Architectural Feasibility study for use of the building as a community hub with café/ event space, and has now launched a community share offer to raise the necessary funds to purchase and renovate the building.
The Church of Scotland has given EKCE until the end of the year to raise the funds needed to meet their valuation of £100,000. This has already been achieved and very good progress has been made towards raising the £50,000 target for conversion etc costs. The share offer closes at the end of September but ENFPS members wishing to make a donation can still do after that date, see https://e-voice.org.uk/ekcel/.
Pittenweem Parish Church – it is understood the building will be put up for sale by the Church of Scotland in early 2027. This follows ownership of the Kirk building being transferred from the Pittenweem congregation to the new united St Adrian’s East Neuk parish.
The Friends of Pittenweem Kirk community group is now looking into an interim low-cost solution for the building based on minimal alterations beyond removal of pews that would give a workable space for community events, funerals and church services, and as exhibition space during Pittenweem Arts Festival. Contacts made with Festival exhibitors confirm this would be an important source of income, and the interim stage would give a breathing space to develop proposals and raise funds to upgrade the building’s facilities.
Kilconquhar Parish Church – the Church of Scotland is proceeding with disposal of the 19th century grade B listed building. This was at the congregation’s request in view of the very high costs of upkeep.
Crail Parish Church – previously scheduled for closure then reprieved, Fife Presbytery has announced that following the request from Crail Church Kirk Session, the church building is to be retained and hence will not be subject to closure and disposal.
Carnbee Parish Church – the grade B listed building was put up for sale by the Church of Scotland in August. A local initiative to acquire the building as a Craft Museum to show the work of Wheelers of Arncroach and other craftsmen used by Robert Lorimer has sadly not been able to raise sufficient support.
ENFPS Christmas Event to be held in Pittenweem on Monday 3 December
Our Christmas social will be held on 3 December from 7-9pm in Coastline Community Church, Session Street, Pittenweem, KY10 2QL. Bill Kennaway will give a talk with slides and film on ‘The Lochty Line, the East Neuk’s other railway’ the remarkable story of the line’s survival as an operational railway until the 1960s and then as the Lochty Private Railway which kept steam locomotives running in the East Neuk till the 1990s. The talk will be followed by mulled wine, mince pies and other festive nibbles. The meeting is open to non-members, so please spread the word and bring your friends.
Tickets are £10 per head and can be paid for by bank transfer to ENFPS Treasurers Account, sort code 83-24-24, Acc No 16067868 (use your surname as reference). Or by cheque to “East Neuk of Fife Preservation Society” and sent to Bill Kennaway, Gyles House, 6 The Gyles, Pittenweem, KY10 2NG. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, but in that case please contact Bill Kennaway on 01333 313172 or
With our very best wishes
Bill Kennaway, Chair, East Neuk of Fife Preservation Society