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St Monans

St Monans is a village in the East Neuk of Fife and is named after the legendary Saint Monan. Situated approximately 3 miles west of Anstruther, this small picturesque community, whose inhabitants formerly made their living mainly from fishing, is now both a tourist destination situated on the Fife Coastal Walk, and a close knit community with much vitality and vibrancy. The former burgh rests on a hill overlooking the Firth of Forth, with views to North Berwick, the Bass Rock and the Isle of May. St Monans contains many historical buildings, most notably the now defunct windmill (which can be visited) that once powered a salt-panning industry, and a 14th century church that sits on the rocks above the water on the western side. Approximately ½ mile west of St Monans are the remains of the once great Newark Castle, a 16th century manor that has since fallen to ruin through cliff erosion and disrepair. In 2002, with the permission of Historic Scotland, an unsuccessful attempt to restore the castle was made.

Parish church

St Monans Church is situated within its kirkyard just to the west of the village on the very edge of the sea. It is indeed said to be the church nearest the sea in the whole of Scotland.^{[citation needed]} The church, one of the finest remaining from the Middle Ages in Scotland, was built by King David II Bruce (1329-71), initially for a small house of Dominican friars. It later became the Church of Scotland parish church. Though the church may never have been finished (it has a choir and transepts, with a short spire over the crossing, but lacks a nave), it has many features of architectural interest, notably the fine stone vaulting in the choir and the plain but handsome sedilia. White-washed throughout internally, the church is particularly light and attractive among ancient Scottish churches.

Major restoration to the windows and masonry was completed in March 2007. The church is open to visitors daily from April - October.^[1]

St Monans Parish Church is linked with Largoward Parish Church. The current minister of both parish churches is the Revd Dr Donald MacEwan.

St Monans Parish Church also runs a youth club, named 'Xplore', where children from P6 - S2 (and any people from S3 upwards are allowed to come as junior leaders, although the junior leaders had to attend for at least the year before if they wanted to come for another year) enjoy music, drama, discussion and food.

Shops, hotels, cafés and businesses

St Monans has a number of shops and businesses, including fish merchants and a fish-smokehouse. The tradition of ship-building however, has ceased. There are several pubs, restaurants and cafes in the village. There is also a caravan park which attracts many visitors, largely from the west of Scotland, a tradition that has continued from the days of the railway line.

In the industrial estate at the entrance to St Monans are the remains of the old railway station, a relic of the old East Neuk Rail Line that was shut down in the 1960s after the Beeching cuts. All that remains is the south platform which is overgrown with grass. However nearby is the station master's house, now a private residence, which stands out from the newer buildings surrounding it.

History

Like other small 'East Neuk' towns, St Monans is rich in vernacular fisher and merchant houses of the 17th to early 19th centuries, with characteristic old Scots features, e.g. forestairs, crow-stepped gables, datestones, pantiled roofs etc.

The author Christopher Rush grew up in this village. His autobiography "Hellfire and Herrings" describes the community as seen by a small boy and as recounted by his grandfather.

Gallery

St Monans Parish Church

St Monans Parish Church Interior	St Monans Parish Church Interior	Remains of Newark Castle
Remains of Newark Castle	Castle do not enter warning	East view from Newark Castle remains	St Monans Windmill
Isopodichnus trace fossil from the upper carboniferous - found on the foreshore ~300m NE of the windmill (two penny piece for scale)