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Early Modern Churches

(1560-1800)

Early Modern Churches (1560-1800)

The early modern period brought significant changes to Fife’s churches. Interiors were increasingly laid out to facilitate preaching. Churches also had less ornamentation than in the Middle Ages. In Fife the seventeenth century saw the construction of several interesting churches which blended local medieval architectural elements with new Classical trends.

Former burgher church, St Andrews. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Former burgher church, St Andrews. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
St John’s Church, Inverkeithing. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
St John’s Church, Inverkeithing. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Auld Kirk, Tayport. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Auld Kirk, Tayport. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Burntisland. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Burntisland. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Abbotshall Parish Church, Kirkcaldy. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Abbotshall Parish Church, Kirkcaldy. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Kingsbarns. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Kingsbarns. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Elie. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Elie. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Largo. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Largo. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Anstruther Easter Parish Church. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Anstruther Easter Parish Church. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Former burgher church, Newburgh. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Former burgher church, Newburgh. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Elie. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Elie. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Former burgher church, St Andrews. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Former burgher church, St Andrews. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
St John’s Church, Inverkeithing. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
St John’s Church, Inverkeithing. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Burntisland. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Burntisland. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Abbotshall Parish Church, Kirkcaldy. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Abbotshall Parish Church, Kirkcaldy. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Kingsbarns. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Kingsbarns. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Anstruther Easter Parish Church. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Anstruther Easter Parish Church. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Largo. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Parish church, Largo. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Auld Kirk, Tayport. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Auld Kirk, Tayport. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Former burgher church, Newburgh. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)
Former burgher church, Newburgh. (Credit: B. Rhodes / University of St Andrews)

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Navigate to the Sacred Sites and Historic Parishes sections for an in-depth exploration of Early Modern Churches in Fife.

Sacred Sites

Medieval Churches

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Nineteenth-Century Churches

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Ruined Churches

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