Crail Parish Church

The history of this beautiful old church is fully documented in a separate booklet “The Kirk of Crail”.

Briefly it records the dedication of the Kirk in 1243 by Bishop David de Bernham. The church had been founded in the name of Saint Maolrubh of Applecross (Rufus the Red Head). Saint Maolrubh was, after Saint Columba, perhaps the most popular saint of the early Irish missionaries to Scotland.

The atmosphere in June 1559 meant that when the Reformer John Knox preached here, such was his eloquence and persuasion, that the Reformers pulled down and destroyed the altars and images.

Between 1648 and 1661 James Sharpe was parish minister. Later as Archbishop Sharpe he met his death by murder on Magus Moor in 1679. He was a notable figure in Church history. A man of boundless ambition he forsook Presbyterianism for Episcopacy and was consecrated as Archbishop of St Andrews in 1661 before meeting his end.

The church was first built around 1175 and has undergone considerable alterations since.

The organ was purchased in 1936 from Hutchison’s House in Kirkcaldy for £600.

In 1517 it was raised to the dignity of a Collegiate Church and its rich possession of silver and brass, altar cloths and vestments, books and ornaments are recorded in its Chartulary.

The major repairs of 1796, 1815 and 1963 have changed the character of the Kirk. However much remains that is interesting.

Inside can be seen one of Crail’s most ancient possessions: a Pictish cross slab dating from about the 8th century - our Guides will often be able to open the Church for you to see the Pictish Stone.

Follow the path to the left of the Church.