Free church
The main church in Milnathort was a Secessionist Church in the north of the town known as the Orwell Church which was built as a chapel in 1741 by the Old Light Burghers and rebuilt in 1821. It only amalgamated briefly with the Church of Scotland in 1839 before transferring to the Free Church of Scotland in 1843. The manse was erected by the Free church in 1850 to house Rev James Thornton (1791-1874). The most notable minister was Walter Chalmers Smith.