Langtoun Central History
Langtoun Central Church came into existance on 1st January 2025. It was the coming together of four congregations in Kirkcaldy: Abbotshall, Bennochy, Linktown, & St. Bryce. You can read about the history of these Churches via the links below.
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The first Church service under the name of Langtoun Central was held on Sunday 5th January 2025 in the Abbotshall Church building.
These pages will document key events in the life of Langtoun Central Church.
Langtoun Central Church History
2025
The January Blues offered, for three days a week at the Bennochy:Methven Hall, a ‘warm space’ for anyone to enjoy social contact, play boardgames or jigsaws or just relax with a hot drink or a bowl of hot soup. There was background music and some people even brought along their own instrument! (see below). Cosy knitted blankets and wheatbags were also available. It was well timed as early January was very cold! We had 50 visits over the month and the blankets left over were donated to the hospice and Abbeyfield Home.
We received our updated Eco congregation certificate now proudly showing Langtoun Central Church.
This ties in with the ECO activities undertaken last year. We have a video from the Bennochy ECO Fayre held in August 2024.
A Church Ceilidh was held on the 22nd February in the Bennochy Halls. A great time was had by all as they danced to the music of Ceilidh band “Quern”. A total of £750 was raised for CHAS, a charity supporting children and families in life.
Rev Stewart McPherson, our Interim Minister, retired after leading our Easter Service in April. We have a selection of pitcures taken at his retiral party.
We raised a total of £327 in donations over our various Easter services for an appeal to help those affected by the recent earthquake in Myanmar.
The annual Women’s Group Bunny Drive was another great success which raised £600 on the night.
May marked the 90th birthday of the 20th Kirkcaldy Guides meeting at the Bennochy (formally St. John’s) building.
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8th, we held an Afternoon Tea in the Olive Branch Café (see photo, below).
A simple soup lunch was provided for all after the service on 11th May to conincide with Christian Aid week. A sum of £1,216 was collected over the week and sent to the Kirkcaldy Christian Aid Committee.
In May, the café at St Bryce won an award for Community Café of the year Fife 2025! Well done to all at the café.
The Bennochy Community Choir said their final farewells to Ella and Graeme Wilson at the start of June with a special concert for family and friends. A picture from the event is shown below:
On 21st June, an audience of over 160 attended a concert in the Church given by church member Bruce Davies. £1,795 was raised for much-needed upgrades to the Church’s sound system. Professional entertainer, Bruce, and the large audience (some of whom had travelled from as far afield as Manchester and Ireland) were thanked by Session Clerk, George Drummond, and a memorable evening was enjoyed by all.
The Pastoral Care Team’s Summer Tea in July was very happily received by over 70 of our elderly members, with their carers and/or family. Lots of singing along with pop songs from the 60s and 70s, presented by members of the former St Bryce Kirk Praise Band, was followed by a delicious meal. Sincere and well deserved thanks were accorded to all members of the Team, whatever their part in the work of the afternoon. Well done!
At a congregational meeting on the 16th July, a vote was passed to proceed with an interim ministry as the next stage of appointing a minister for Langtoun Central Church. Later, Rev Eileen Miller was announced as the new Interim Minister starting in late October.
Our Harvest Service was held in early October with the Church lovingly decorated for the occasion. Goods and £330 of donations were collected for Kirkcaldy Foodbank.
A very successful Quiz Night was held at St. Bryce on Saturday 11th October. An excellent time was had by all who took part.
On 19th October the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Right Rev Rosie Frew, led a special service which included the presentation of Long Service Certificates. The recipients are shown with the Moderator in the picture below. You can also view other pictures from the service. (You can view a large version of this picture by clicking on it).
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The Christian Aid Soup Lunch provided after the service with the Moderator raised £342.45.
A service of Introduction of Rev Eileen Miller was held at St. Bryce on 23rd October 2025. The service was led by Fife Presbytery Moderator, Rev Arthur Christie, with Rev Alec Shuttleworth, Presbytery Clerk, preaching the sermon. Eileen is now our interim minister for the next three years.
You can watch a video of the service below (please forgive the face-tracking camera movements!):
A picture of the Fife Presbytery members with Rev Julie Rennick and Rev Eileen Miller is shown below.
The Scottish Region Handbell Ringing Autumn Rally was held in the Bennochy building on Saturday 25th October, a full day of bell ringing enjoyed by all who attended from Aberdeen, Aboyne, Blairgowrie, Cumnock, Dunblane Cathedral, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Haddington, Inverness, Stonehaven and Thurso. At the end of the day there was a “masse” ringing.
Things got very scary at the Olive Branch Café Halloween Lunch – Just look at those costumes!
Rev Eileen Miller and the Langtoun Central Church Kirk Session braved the Autumn weather for a group photograph.
The St Bryce building hosted the Lothians Speak Their Name Quilt in the foyer between Thursday 30th October and Thursday 13th November. This is a memorial quilt, commemorating the lives of individuals lost to suicide, created by their loved-ones. Many people visited to see this beautifully crafted piece of art and read some of the stories associated with it.
We have a video tour available giving a detailed look at the quilt:
At our service on 2nd November we collected 86 Christmas Parcels for despatch to Blythswood Care for delivery to needy children.
A final total of 98 shoeboxes were loaded onto the Blytheswood van! Many thanks to all you kind folks who donated. There were also donations of £105 to help with transport costs.
On Saturday 15th November the Guild held their Coffee Morning at St. Bryce Centre which was a great success, thanks to everyone who helped setting up, manning stalls, donating to stalls, baking, serving and making coffee, and of course to all who came along and supported us, spending lots of money. Also to Guild members who donated items for our super hamper, which was won by Marjorie Dryburgh with a value of £153.55 and she is delighted. The Coffee Morning raised £1.504.90 which will be shared between our Charities.
Our annual Christmas Fayre was held on Saturday 29th November. We have a selection of pictures from this very successul event which raised £3,590.
On Sunday 30th November we started the Advent season with a traditional morning service in Bennochy followed at 2pm by a Reflective Service for those bereaved, held at St. Bryce.
The first Sunday in December was our Gift Service as we lit two candles on our Advent ring. The congregation brought gifts for children and young people, and their parents, so that the Salvation Army could help struggling families in the town celebrate Christmas. Major Norman Waddington came to receive these gifts and gave some information and insight into the plight of many families today. A picture of some of the many gifts is shown below:
The Bennochy Community Choir held their Christmas performance in December at which donations to their charities, The Maggie’s Centre and The Kirkcaldy Foodbank, raised £260.
For advent we held a number of special services which included a Lessons & Carols service and an excellent Pop Up Nativity (with a large cast). We have some pictures and the whole service on video.
Our Christmas Eve service in the St Bryce Centre sanctuary was well attended and much enjoyed, especially by the children and young people making woolly sheep, sparkly stars and Christingles, while the rest of us enjoyed singing carols and listening to a very amusing narrative given by Baaarbara and Ewenice, two of the sheep on site! The offering from this service went to help Kirkcaldy Foodbank.
