Linktown - A Potted History

The congregation of "Linktoun" was formed in 1737 as a dissenting church by the people who had seceded from Abbotshall Parish Church. The site of the original church was at the point where the parishes of Kirkcaldy and Abbotshall joined, hence the name of Linktown Church.

The original building was opened in 1740 and was a little closer to the High Street than the present building. Apparently no record, photograph, plan or sketch of the original building has been found.

In 1829 the gallery of Kirkcaldy Old Kirk collapsed with loss of life resulting in a Health & Safety inspection of all local church buildings. Linktoun's building was condemned and the current building was erected and opened in 13th November 1831 at a cost of £4k.

At that time the new name of Bethelfield was adopted as the building is in Bethelfield Place.

Bethelfield Church was originally Bethelfield (burgher) United Associate Congregation.

In 1847 Bethelfield became United Presbyterian Church.

In 1900 Bethelfield became United Free Church.

In 1929 Bethelfield became Church of Scotland,when the United Free Church and Church of Scotland reunited.

The Union with Invertiel took place in 1990 and the Bethelfield building was chosen by arbiters as the place of worship.

The joint congregations at that time chose the name Linktown to be the name of the new congregation.

The National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh have managers minutes and other records from 1797 onwards (their ref CH3 846). For access details see www.nas.gov.uk

There are articles about Church of Scotland and Episcopal Church Communion Tokens in volumes XLI, and LXXVII of the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, Scotland. (The proceedings are available online at www.ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/library/psas). As the associate congregation was a secession church it is not covered by these articles but they refer to a source that might be helpful 'Scottish Communion Tokens other than those of the Established Church' by the Rev Robert Dick, 1902.

Interestingly, the minister from 1799 to 1859 was the Rev. James Law, however, Law is a common local name.

A Communion token from the collection of Abdelaziz Abdelaziz of New York

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