Pittenweem Parish Church

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Pittenweem Parish Church

The Pittenweem Parish Church is a church building of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the Scottish village of Pittenweem in the Council Area Fife . In 1972 the building was included as an individual monument in the Scottish list of monuments in the highest category A.

history

Probably the earliest church on the site was built in the 12th century and thus in the same period as the nearby Pittenweem Priory . Records from 1549 mention a church associated with the convent. It is not certain whether the church was open to the general population at this time. In 1588 the building was rebuilt, so it is unclear whether fragments of the medieval structure are still there. The street-side tower housed the tolbooth of the burgh . Also the Pittenweem witches, who became well knownwere set in the tower in 1704. In the 19th century the town hall moved to the renovated Pittenweem Priory. In 1882 the Pitweem Parish Church was modernized, whereby the original character was largely lost.

description

The Pittenweem Parish Church stands at the head of the High Street near Pittenweem Priory. It is an interesting example of the blending of Christian and secular architecture in the 16th century. In 1588 the four-storey bell tower with a square floor plan with a side length of 5.2 m was added. A rounded stair tower runs along its northeast edge. Around 1630 the tower was extended to include the pointed helmet. At the foot of the helmet with a hexagonal plan there are portholes . While the facades along the lower floors are plastered with Harl , the upper, cantilevered floor shows natural stone masonry.

Bells

The ringing consists of two bells. The older of the two measures 65 cm in diameter. It shows the Swedish inscription "HAFVER SIORAN PVTENS EFTER LATNA ENKA LATITGIVTAAR 1663" ( poured by the widow Joran Putensen and his descendants in 1663 ). The bell founder Putensen was originally from Denmark, but worked in Stockholm . The bell is decorated with a figure and probably also shows a fish. The younger bell is 54 cm in diameter. It bears the inscription "FOR THE BURGH OF PITTENWEEM 1742".

additional

In 1773 a tower clock made by the regionally famous watchmaker John Smith was let in. The cost was £ 25. In 1858 it was replaced by today's clock.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .
  2. ↑ a b c Entry on Pittenweem Parish Church  in Canmore, the database of Historic Environment Scotland (English)

Web links

Commons : Pittenweem Tolbooth  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 56 ° 12 '49.9 "  N , 2 ° 43' 42.5"  W.