History to 1929
The disruption took place in 1843, when 450 ministers of the Church of Scotland formed the
Free Church of Scotland. Among those who left was the Rev.Adam Cairns who with those who
joined him set up and built the new Cupar Free Church in South Union Street at the
estimated cost of £1000 and by 1849 a Manse was also completed and paid for.
In 1853, Mr.Cairns received a call from Melbourne and he left for Australia., but his work
was continued under the Rev.John Laird. It was so successful that a new and bigger church
was built in the Bonnygate and opened in 1878 -that is the present St.John's.
The building took two years to complete and including the site cost £10,108. This cost
was met largely by a bequest from Sir David Baxter of £7,500 and the proceeds of
the first church. The new St John's set back from the street on the highest part of the
site, has a spire of 150 feet high above the floor of the church and tends to overshadow
the former United Presbyterian Church (now Cupar Baptist Church) built 10 years previously
The architects were Campbell Douglas and Sellars from Glasgow. Almost immediately due to
the success of the church, a hall was added, designed and supervised by a Dundee firm of
architects.
The new church was opened on 28 November 1878. Among those present was the Rev. Adam
Cairns, who had travelled from Australia for the occasion..
The congregation had leave from the General Assembly to appoint a colleague for Mr Laird,
the Rev. James Ferguson, who succeeded Mr Laird when he died in April 1896 at the age of
85, in the 62nd year of his ministry. Mr Ferguson continued until 1904, when he was called
to a charge in Canada. It was during his ministry that a pipe organ and a more efficient
heating system were installed.
Mr Ferguson's successor was Rev. Stuart Crabbe and when he died in 1924, he was succeeded
by the Rev.Donald Baillie. In 1928, the 50th anniversary of the church was celebrated by
the building of the Jubilee Room.
