Records of Newport Congregational Church, Fife

The records include minutes of meetings, membership rolls, financial material and papers relating to the life of the congregation.

The evangelical activities of the Haldane brothers provoked a growth in non-conformity in Fife. The congregation at Newport was flourishing in 1890 and was closed in 1986 although the trustees continued to meet until 1988 to dispose of assets. Congregationalism emerged in Scotland at the end of the eighteenth century as the result of a revival of religion and as a protest against the formalism and authority of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland. The Congregational Union was founded in 1813.

In the 1840s a number of churches came into being in response to the preaching of James Morrison, in which he challenged the Calvinist beliefs of the Church of Scotland. These churches formed the Evangelical Union and adopted the Congregational form of church order. In 1897 the Evangelical Union and the Congregational Union merged in the first church union of modern times.

In the 20th century, moves towards organic union with other denominations increased in Scotland as they had done in England and Wales. In 1993, the Congregational Union of Scotland became the Scottish Congregational Church. As the concept of a national Congregational church is a contradiction in terms, Congregationalism being the belief that each individual church is a church in its own right, independent of other churches, about a third of the Congregational churches left the Scottish Congregational Church and became members of the Congregational Federation. In recent years since this initial group of churches joined the Federation, there have been a steady stream of Scottish Congregational churches moving their affiliation to the Congregational Federation. In April 2000 50 of the churches in membership with the Scottish Congregational Church became the Scottish Synod of the United Reformed Church.

Source: website of the Scottish Congregational Union.

ms38286/1-3 Account books, 1964-1974, 1975-1983, 1984-1986; ms38286/1-3 Account books, 1964-1974, 1975-1983, 1984-1986; ms38286/4 Certificates of admission and demission, 1923-1967; ms38286/4 Certificates of admission and demission, 1923-1967; ms38286/5 Autograph album of preachers, 1893-1957; ms38286/5 Autograph album of preachers, 1893-1957; ms38286/6 Balance sheets, 1975-1985; ms38286/6 Balance sheets, 1975-1985; ms38286/7 Register of baptisms, 1965-1968; ms38286/7 Register of baptisms, 1965-1968; ms38286/8 Minutes of Church meeting, 1979-1986; ms38286/8 Minutes of Church meeting, 1979-1986; ms38286/9-10 Lists of Church members, ca. 1985 and undated; ms38286/9-10 Lists of Church members, ca. 1985 and undated; ms38286/11 Register of attendance at communion, 1914-1924 and church roll, 1925-1935; ms38286/11 Register of attendance at communion, 1914-1924 and church roll, 1925-1935; ms38286/12 Constitution and bye-laws, 1957; ms38286/12 Constitution and bye-laws, 1957; ms38286/13 Minute book of deacons' meetings, 1912-1933; ms38286/13 Minute book of deacons' meetings, 1912-1933; ms38286/14/1-3 Minute books of managers, 1895-1933, 1933-1957, 1969-1988; ms38286/14/1-3 Minute books of managers, 1895-1933, 1933-1957, 1969-1988; ms38286/15 Minute book of meeting of members, 1979; ms38286/15 Minute book of meeting of members, 1979; ms38286/16 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1915-1991; ms38286/16 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1915-1991; ms38286/17 Minutes of Sunday School, 1890-1903; ms38286/17 Minutes of Sunday School, 1890-1903; ms38286/18 Trust deed of Newport Congregational Church, 1915.

By appointment with the Archivist. Access to unpublished records less than 30 years old and other records containing confidential information may be restricted. Special conditions apply to photographs.

Transferred to the Library of the University of St Andrews by the Scottish Congregational Union via the minister in 1992.

Description compiled by Rachel Hart, Archives Hub Project.

Brief hand list is available in the Reading Room.

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the University Archivist. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.