Forgan Church celebrates 900 years

Newport-on-Tay Church of Scotland in Fife celebrated the 900^th anniversary of a church being in Forgan parish.

The church, which is in the old parish of Forgan, celebrated the achievement on Sunday 18 August with an open-air service in the kirkyard surrounding the old ruined Forgan Church led by their minister, Rev Dr Amos Chewachong.

Dr Amos said the day was a reminder to those in attendance of ‘their role as faithful builders, charged with preserving and nurturing the legacy left by generations before them.'

"The 900th anniversary of the Newport-On-Tay Church of Scotland was not just a celebration of history, but a recommitment to the enduring legacy of Christ," he said.

"As the congregation left the historic walls of Forgan Church, they did so with renewed purpose, ready to build upon the foundation that has stood the test of time."

The ruins near the church likely date back to the fourteenth century, with there having been a church at the site since 1124.

The old church sat a few miles from the cottages along the shore that then made up the village. According to historic Kirk Session records, elders were frequently dispatched mid-service to scour Newport to round up those absent.

The present church was formed after Forgan Church closed in 1981 to unite with St Thomas' to form Newport-on-Tay Church of Scotland.

Mairi Shiels, an elder of Newport-on-Tay Church of Scotland, said the congregation, which ranged in age between nine and 89, was ‘blessed with a wonderfully sunny and warm morning.'

"We are grateful to have been able to acknowledge the achievements of all these early worshippers who through their vision, hard work, and most of all their faith, were able to provide a strong foundation for Christian worship in this parish," she said.

"Let us salute them and ask God to help us to continue their efforts," she said.