Inverkeithing Parish Church

Inverkeithing Parish Church of St Peters, also known as Forthview Parish Church Inverkeithing, is a category B listed church of the Church of Scotland, in the town of Inverkeithing, Fife. History Legend suggests St Erat, a follower of St Ninan, founded the first church here around the fifth century. Reliable sources indicate the church was founded by Waltheof of Allerdale, son of Gospatrick, as a wooden Celtic church. The original wooden church was adapted into a Norman stone structure, which was bequeathed by the monks of Dunfermline Abbey in 1139. The stone church was completed in 1244. The Norman foundations were reused for the 13th century Gothic structure, and a tower was added in the 14th century. In pre-Reformation times the church had altars to St. Michael, the Holy Blood, John the Baptist, St. Catherine, the Holy Rood, St. Laurence, St. Ninian and St. Mary. In 1611 it absorbed the adjacent parish of Rosyth. Inverkeithing was the host of the Convention of Royal Burghs between 1487 and 1552; the final convention was held in Inverkeithing Parish Church before Edinburgh became the host. The church became the focal point of the Inverkeithing Case of 1752, a significant dispute within the Church of Scotland surrounding the right of patronage. The dispute ended with the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland ordering the installation of Andrew Richardson as minister against the wishes of the congregation, and the deposition of Thomas Gillespie who was unwilling to follow orders. As a result, 127 members of the congregation left and formed St John's Church. The Inverkeithing case led directly to the Second Secession of the Church of Scotland with the founding of the Relief Church by Gillespie in 1761. Extensive fire damage in 1825 reduced it to the height of its lower window sills, although the 14th century tower survived, but it was rebuilt. The main part of the church is thus a large plain neo-Gothic 'preaching box' of 1826–27, designed by James Gillespie Graham. Built of soft sandstone, the tower—the only remaining part of the pre-Reformation church—is very weathered, and has been partially refaced. The tower is crowned by a lead-covered spire from 1835 designed by Thomas Bonnar, whose elaborate gabled dormers saw clock faces being added in 1883. The churchyard contains graves mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries, with the earliest dating to 1606. In 2024, Inverkeithing Parish Church of St Peters united with Aberdour St Fillan’s, Dalgety Parish Church, North Queensferry Parish Church and Rosyth Parish Church to form Fife: Forthview Parish Church of Scotland. Interior The church's roomy interior—now deprived of its galleries—is graced by one of the finest medieval furnishings to survive in any Scottish parish church. This is the large and well-preserved sandstone font of around 1398, which was rediscovered buried under the church, having been concealed at the Reformation. Its octagonal bowl is decorated with angels holding heraldic shields. These include the royal arms of the King of Scots, and of Queen Anabella Drummond, the consort of King Robert III. The high quality of the carving is explained by it being a royal gift to the parish church, Inverkeithing being a favourite residence of Queen Anabella (1350 - 1401). Most of the interior visible today was designed by Peter MacGregor Chalmers and dates from 1900. Graveyard The church kirkyard has graves dating back to 1606. Inverkeithing's links to the sea are evident in the graveyard; ferryman James Scott, 'Master of Queensferry Passage' is in the kirkyard along with Dr John Smart Peddie, surgeon on the HMS Terror. Notable Ministers Walter Bruce, witch hunter and longest serving leader of the Church of Scotland in history as 'Constant Moderator' from 1662 until 1673. Robert Echlin, Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Connor from 1612 to 1635. Robert Roche (Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1613). Photographs References