[1592/4/38]¹

For building of a second kirk within the parish of St Andrews

²Forasmuch as it is statute and ordained in the parliament held at Edinburgh, 24 October 1581, that every parish kirk, and as much bounds as shall be found to be a sufficient and competent parish for that, shall have their own pastor with a sufficient and reasonable stipend, according to the which ordinance diverse of the gentlemen dwelling to landward of the parish of St Andrews have exposed and declared to his highness and estates of this present parliament the large quantity and bounds of the parish of St Andrews of old, both to burgh and to land, exceeding seven miles of length, which cannot be sufficiently instructed by a pastor in respect of the populous congregation of the said parish and great distance of the said parishioners' dwellings from the said parish kirk, and therefore have craved the division of the said parish and a reasonable bounds of the landward of the same to be erected in a several parish for their better and more commodious instruction, offering to build a kirk and manse thereto upon their own expenses, which petition his highness and estates foresaid, finding to be most godly and reasonable, have therefore found, designed and declared the particular towns and lands after-mentioned, lying of old within the said parish of St Andrews, to be a sufficient and competent bounds for a several and distinct parish, they are to say: Byrehills, Smiddy Green, Balduff, Bonnytown, Walkmylne, Stravithie, Bannafield, Kinaldy, Kilmerston, Carngour, Lambieletham, Langraw, Feddinch, Unthank for Letham, Lathockar, Hazelden, Easter and Wester Morton; and therefore to have divided the same town and lands particularly above-mentioned from the old parish of St Andrews, and to have erected the same just as his highness and estates of parliament erect the said towns and lands presently above-specified, with the whole bounds, meiths and marches thereof, in a several and distinct parish for that part of the landward of the said parish of St Andrews dwelling upon the same, to be called in all time coming the South Kirk of St Andrews, with power to them to build a parish kirk and manse upon any part of the said lands which shall be found most commodious and convenient by the said parishioners for the resort of the said people thereto, and to convene at the said parish kirk for hearing the word of God and administration of the sacraments at all times convenient, giving, granting and conveying to the said parish kirk all liberties, privileges and commodities that any other parish kirk within this realm has, and discharge the said parishioners of all charges, imposed burdens and taxations to which they were subject of before to the old parish kirk of St Andrews and of all manner of contribution thereto, declaring them to be free thereof in all time coming, so that they shall be only burdened with the building, reparation and upholding of their said new parish kirk and other ordinary charges and expenses belonging thereto.