A 12th century church in Fife has been awarded £90,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The historic Kirkton Church in Burntisland was awarded funding to preserve the ruined building and its churchyard.

The Old Kirkton Church and Historic Graveyard Steering Group made up of the Burntisland Heritage Trust, Fife Council, Burntisland Community Council and the Floral Action Burntisland group submitted the bid to safeguard the future of the medieval building and graveyard.

The project will bring the historic site back into community use.


The grant for the Old Kirkton Church (Burntisland) Community Conservation and Heritage Promotion project will ensure the building is preserved for future generations.

Works will involve clearing off ivy growth, stabilising the crumbling walls, capping the wall-heads and both reinstating and repairing fallen and broken gravestones.

The two-year project to transform the roofless ruin will start later this year, subject to reaching the funding total of £130,000.

Once funding is in place, the project will begin with the building works, followed by graveyard work, culminating in educational and promotional activities.

Councillor George Kay said: "The local community has been working hard on this project for many years, and I would like to congratulate them on this success. I am delighted that all their hard work has paid off, that Kirkton Church will be made safe and that the graveyard will be opened again as a public space of great historical interest."

(LM)