St John the Evangelist Church, Pittenweem
A summary history by Stuart G. Hall.

The Church of Scotland was Episcopalian before the Revolution of 1689, In 1692 the Episcopalian minister was driven out of Pittenweem Kirk and a Presbyterian imposed. Scattered loyalists (who were also supporters of the Jacobite Pretender) formed themselves as a congregation in 1724, meeting at first in the ruins of the mediaeval Priory; but it was infested with rats, and they rented an upstairs room of a house in the High Street. The Jacobites rose in 1745 with Prince Charlie, and were utterly defeated at Culloden in 1746. One result was that Episcopalian chapels all over the country, including Crail and Cupar, were destroyed. The Pittenweem congregation managed to survive, and had some able ministers, especially David Low, who was installed in 1789 and lived till 1855. Low was greatly loved by the local gentry, the 'Heritors' who were expected to provide places of worship.
The modern Scottish Episcopal Church was constituted in 1804. The old Jacobite Episcopalians had come round to supporting the Hanoverian Government after the death of Prince Charlie in 1788. They were still separate from the 'Qualified Chapels' which had grown up, using the English Prayer Book and loyal to the Government. At a Synod in Laurencekirk in 1804 they came together, recognizing the Scottish liturgical tradition alongside the English, and accepting the doctrinal standards of the Church of England. Immediately Low got to work, and he had capped out his new St John's Chapel, Pittenweem, with the help of the local Heritors, in 1805. The church was a simple oblong, without the chancel or sanctuary area to the left as you enter the church. There was a gallery from the entrance to the middle of the church, and the altar was at the south-east end. Low became Bishop of Moray, Ross and Argyll (about a third of Scotland!) in 1819. There were no funds for bishops in those days, and all were, like Low, parish priests. Until he resigned his bishopric in 1850 he ran his Dioceses from St John's, which was technically his Cathedral Church. He had ordinands and young priests to help him, especially when he went off on summer tours of his Diocese, confirming, ordaining, consecrating churches and churchyards. Low acquired all the buildings of the ancient Priory Priory, living in the Prior's House, and keeping curates in what is now the Great House. Low is buried in a fine tomb beside the church, and has a wall monument within.
By 1855 the church was dilapidated and thought old-fashioned. It had acquired the organ in 1851. In 1869 it was partly rebuilt, and its present shape, with a sanctuary to the north-east and a splendid roof, date from that time. The next year three large windows were filled with stained glass, the first in the district in modern times. Then in 1871 began the ministry of the Rev. Fitzroy Lloyd, who remained till his retirement in 1908. The St Margaret and St Adrian window was installed in 1914, in memory of Matthew Forster Conolly, a friend of Low and manager of the Church (he was a solicitor and finally Town Clerk of Anstruther). A great new work was begun in 1924 and completed the next year. Robert Lorimer designed and executed the wonderful oak panelling, the prayer desk, lectern and pulpit. The two smaller windows near the entrance were opened up and filled with stained glass; The font was moved to its present position. At this time J.H. Shepherd was Rector, a good historian who wrote The Story of St John's Church, Pittenweem, published in Edinburgh in 1925.
In 1935 St Fillan's Cave was cleared, refurbished and dedicated as a chapel. About 1950 the Priory grounds were used for the first Pittenweem Arts Festivals, when plays and musical events were staged. Since 1954 St John's has shared its ministry with St Michael's, Elie, with various arrangements. For a time, 1978-82, it worked as a team ministry with the University Chaplaincy or St Andrew's Church, St Andrews. One effect of this was that the ancient Priory was no longer wanted as the priest's house, and was sold. So was a great deal of the land with which Bishop Low had endowed his church. This provides capital in the Bishop Low's Trust, but the heritage of all the ancient monastic buildings, Priory and Cave, Great House and Gate House, has been impaired. Bishop Low had a great library for the use of the clergy, and this is now safely stowed in the University Library at St Andrews. In 2000 the Vestry or Sacristy had its second enlargement since it was built in 1869, installing toilet and other facilities with the help of a Lottery grant. Recent incumbents have encouraged good relations with the other denominations in Pittenweem and throughout the East Neuk. For many years services have been held monthly in Crail Parish Church.
The people of St John's have a great heritage based on the sacrifice and liberality of others. They have continued liturgical worship in the Prayer Book tradition to God's great honour and the good of souls who hear it. Long may it continue.