St Monans
Encyclopedia
St Monans is a village in the East Neuk
of Fife
and is named after the legendary Saint Monan. Situated approximately 3 miles west of Anstruther
, this small picturesque community, whose inhabitants formerly made their living mainly from fishing, is now both a tourist destination situated on the Fife Coastal Path
, and a close knit community with much vitality and vibrancy. The former burgh rests on a hill overlooking the Firth of Forth
, with views to North Berwick
, the Bass Rock
and the Isle of May
. St Monans contains many historical buildings, most notably the now defunct windmill (which can be visited) that once powered a salt panning industry, and a 14th century church that sits on the rocks above the water on the western side. Approximately ½ mile west of St Monans are the remains of the once great Newark Castle
, a 16th century manor that has since fallen to ruin through cliff erosion and disrepair. In 2002, with the permission of Historic Scotland, an unsuccessful attempt to restore the castle was made.
It is often said that St Monans is the church nearest the sea in the whole of Scotland
, and this may well be the case, being only around 20m from the edge. The church, one of the finest remaining from the Middle Ages
in Scotland, was built by King David II
Bruce (1329-71), initially for a small house of Dominican
friars. It later became the Church of Scotland
parish church. Though the church may never have been finished (it has a choir
and transept
s, with a short spire over the crossing, but lacks a nave
), it has many features of architectural interest, notably the fine stone vaulting in the choir and the plain but handsome sedilia
. White-washed throughout internally, the church is particularly light and attractive among ancient Scottish churches.
Major restoration to the windows and masonry was completed in March 2007. The church is open to visitors daily from April - October.
St Monans Parish Church is linked with Largoward Parish Church. The current minister of both parish churches is the Revd Dr Donald MacEwan.
St Monans Parish Church also runs a youth club, named 'Xplore', where children from years Primary 6 - Senior 2 enjoy music, drama, discussion and food, and any from S3 upwards who have attended the previous year are allowed as junior leaders.
In the industrial estate at the entrance to St Monans are the remains of the old railway station, a relic of the old East Neuk Rail Line that was shut down in the 1960s after the Beeching
cuts. All that remains is the south platform which is overgrown with grass. However nearby is the station master's house, now a private residence, which stands out from the newer buildings surrounding it.
was killed on the Isle of May in the same raid and all told 6,000 Fife Christians are said to have died.
Like other small 'East Neuk' towns, St Monans is rich in vernacular fisher and merchant houses of the 17th to early 19th centuries, with characteristic old Scots features, e.g. forestairs, crow-stepped gable
s, datestone
s, pantile
d roofs etc. The tradition of ship-building has now ceased. For over 200 years the boat builder
J W Miller & Sons Ltd
produced fifie
fishing boats, yachts and motor launches in the village.
The author Christopher Rush
grew up in the village. His autobiography "Hellfire and Herrings" describes the community as seen by a small boy in the 1940s, 1950s and earlier, and as recounted by his grandfather and other relatives.
East Neuk
The East Neuk or East Neuk of Fife is an area of the coast of Fife, Scotland, which is geographically ill-defined but nonetheless stirs local passions....
of Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
and is named after the legendary Saint Monan. Situated approximately 3 miles west of Anstruther
Anstruther
Anstruther is a small town in Fife, Scotland. The two halves of Anstruther are divided by a small stream called Dreel Burn. Anstruther lies 9 miles south-southeast of St Andrews. It is the largest community on the stretch of north-shore coastline of the Firth of Forth known as the East Neuk,...
, this small picturesque community, whose inhabitants formerly made their living mainly from fishing, is now both a tourist destination situated on the Fife Coastal Path
Fife Coastal Path
The Fife Coastal Path is a Scottish long distance footpath that runs from North Queensferry to Newport-on-Tay, near the Tay Bridge. The path was created in 2002 and runs for 82 miles along the coastline of Fife...
, and a close knit community with much vitality and vibrancy. The former burgh rests on a hill overlooking the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
, with views to North Berwick
North Berwick
The Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East Bay and the...
, the Bass Rock
Bass Rock
The Bass Rock, or simply The Bass, , is an island in the outer part of the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland. It is approximately offshore, and north-east of North Berwick. It is a steep-sided volcanic rock, at its highest point, and is home to a large colony of gannets...
and the Isle of May
Isle of May
The Isle of May is located in the north of the outer Firth of Forth, approximately off the coast of mainland Scotland. It is 1.8 km long and less than half a kilometre wide...
. St Monans contains many historical buildings, most notably the now defunct windmill (which can be visited) that once powered a salt panning industry, and a 14th century church that sits on the rocks above the water on the western side. Approximately ½ mile west of St Monans are the remains of the once great Newark Castle
Newark Castle, Fife
Newark Castle is a ruin located just outside the town of St Monans, on the east coast of Fife, Scotland. Building on the site probably dates back to the 13th century at which time the Scottish king Alexander III spent some of his childhood there...
, a 16th century manor that has since fallen to ruin through cliff erosion and disrepair. In 2002, with the permission of Historic Scotland, an unsuccessful attempt to restore the castle was made.
Parish church
St Monans Church is situated within its kirkyard just to the west of the village on the very edge of the sea. It has a very dramatic setting, perched on a low rock, reached over a small valley with a burn. As seen from most directions it has the sea as a backdrop. A more modern cemetery stands further westwards on the upper slopes of the little hill. This contains the local war memorial. Standing at the extreme west end of this a romantic ruin can be viewed across fields, again perched on the sea edge.It is often said that St Monans is the church nearest the sea in the whole of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and this may well be the case, being only around 20m from the edge. The church, one of the finest remaining from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
in Scotland, was built by King David II
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
Bruce (1329-71), initially for a small house of Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
friars. It later became the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
parish church. Though the church may never have been finished (it has a choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
s, with a short spire over the crossing, but lacks a nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
), it has many features of architectural interest, notably the fine stone vaulting in the choir and the plain but handsome sedilia
Sedilia
Sedilia , in ecclesiastical architecture, is the term used to describe stone seats, usually to be found on the south side of an altar, often in the chancel, for the use of the officiating priests...
. White-washed throughout internally, the church is particularly light and attractive among ancient Scottish churches.
Major restoration to the windows and masonry was completed in March 2007. The church is open to visitors daily from April - October.
St Monans Parish Church is linked with Largoward Parish Church. The current minister of both parish churches is the Revd Dr Donald MacEwan.
St Monans Parish Church also runs a youth club, named 'Xplore', where children from years Primary 6 - Senior 2 enjoy music, drama, discussion and food, and any from S3 upwards who have attended the previous year are allowed as junior leaders.
St. Monans Gospel Hall
The Hall was built in 1970 and is a modern building, harled with a slate roof, situated in a raised location facing broadly west over Hope Park on the northern edge of St. Monans. Prior to its construction, it was not uncommon for fishermen from St Monans to cycle to St Andrews to attend meetings at the Gospel Hall there. The current gospel preachers for St Monans Gospel Hall are Dr. Bert Cargill and Mr. Phillip Hughes. Gospel meetings are held at 6.00 p.m. every Sunday.Shops, hotels, cafés and businesses
St Monans has a number of shops and businesses, including fish merchants and a fish-smokehouse. St Monans Mini Market, run by mother and daughter partnership, Mary Downes and Lee Taylor provides for all grocery needs. Bed and Breakfast is available at Grannies-Harbour Guest House on the Mid-Shore, run by Ann West. There are several pubs, restaurants and cafes in the village. There is also a caravan park which attracts many visitors, largely from the west of Scotland, a tradition that has continued from the days of the railway line.In the industrial estate at the entrance to St Monans are the remains of the old railway station, a relic of the old East Neuk Rail Line that was shut down in the 1960s after the Beeching
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
cuts. All that remains is the south platform which is overgrown with grass. However nearby is the station master's house, now a private residence, which stands out from the newer buildings surrounding it.
History
The village takes its name from St Monance who was killed by invading Danes in about 875. St AdrianAdrian of May
Saint Adrian of May was a martyr-saint of ancient Scotland, whose cult became popular in the 14th century.-Life and martyrdom:Little is known of the life of this Scottish saint and martyr. He is held by some to have been an Irish monk and bishop, with the Gaelic name of Ethernan, who, though he...
was killed on the Isle of May in the same raid and all told 6,000 Fife Christians are said to have died.
Like other small 'East Neuk' towns, St Monans is rich in vernacular fisher and merchant houses of the 17th to early 19th centuries, with characteristic old Scots features, e.g. forestairs, crow-stepped gable
Crow-stepped gable
A Stepped gable, Crow-stepped gable, or Corbie step is a stair-step type of design at the top of the triangular gable-end of a building...
s, datestone
Datestone
A datestone is typically an embedded stone with the date of engraving and other information carved into it. They are not considered a very reliable source for dating a house, as instances of old houses being destroyed and rebuilt have been reported.Specific locations have often been chosen for...
s, pantile
Pantile
Pantile may refer to:*A type of roof tile*The Pantiles, an area of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England...
d roofs etc. The tradition of ship-building has now ceased. For over 200 years the boat builder
Boat building
Boat building, one of the oldest branches of engineering, is concerned with constructing the hulls of boats and, for sailboats, the masts, spars and rigging.-Parts:* Bow - the front and generally sharp end of the hull...
J W Miller & Sons Ltd
J W Miller & Sons Ltd
J W Miller & Sons Ltd was a boatbuilder in St Monans, Fife, Scotland for over 200 years. They produced a variety of fishing boats, yachts and motor launches. The firm built 110 Fifie yachts and was known worldwide for the quality and craftsmanship of their vessels. The yard is now...
produced fifie
Fifie
The Fifie is a design of sailing boat developed on the east coast of Scotland. It was a traditional fishing boat used by Scottish fishermen from the 1850s until well into the 20th century...
fishing boats, yachts and motor launches in the village.
The author Christopher Rush
Christopher Rush (writer)
Christopher Rush is a Scottish writer, born in St Monans and for thirty years a teacher of literature in Edinburgh. His books include A Twelvemonth and a Day and the highly acclaimed To Travel Hopefully.A Twelvemonth and a Day served as inspiration for the film...
grew up in the village. His autobiography "Hellfire and Herrings" describes the community as seen by a small boy in the 1940s, 1950s and earlier, and as recounted by his grandfather and other relatives.
External links
- http://www.stmonans.org.uk/
- http://www.eastneukwide.co.uk/tourist/st-monans.html
- http://www.electricscotland.com/history/eastneuk9.htm
- http://www.stmonanslargowardkirk.org
- http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stmonans/parishchurch/index.html St Monans Parish Church History