2nd March 1813 was quite an important date in the story of old Fairlie. On that day Margaret Ewing "with consent of John Guilline, Excise Officer, her husband" sold the land in Fairlie that she had inherited from her grandfather, John Ewing, cooper.
The purchasers were two Glasgow merchants, Charles Stuart Parker and Hugh Tennent. They both had built large villas and were resident in Fairlie. At that time the seaside had just become fashionable. All along the shores of the Firth of Clyde city people were building "marine villas", holiday homes at which they would spend a good deal of their time.
On the part of the land he had bought, Charles Parker built what the family came to know as "the Fairlie house", while, on his part, Hugh Tennent built a house he named Creich. Charles Parker and Hugh Tennent were brothers-in-law. Their wives, Margaret Parker and Christina Tennent, were the daughters of the Rev. George Rainy of Creich in Sutherland. Later, a third sister, Ann, married another Glasgow merchant, Robert Brown. He bought the Ferry House at Fairlie, modernised it and renamed it Rockhaven.
Fairlie was then a rather isolated, scattered village. It had a population of just over 300: weavers, fishermen and the craftsmen - smith, wheelwright, boatbuilder and so on - necessary for the requirements of day to day living. The newcomers from the town were bound to bring new ideas and changes. Charles Parker and Hugh Tennent began in 1826 by building, almost entirely at their own expense, a school-house on the site of what is now the Village Hall. It was not the first school in Fairlie, but was the first built for that specific purpose.
Occasional religious services may have been held in the new school, but Fairlie people had still, twice each Sunday, to make the journey, generally on foot, to worship in Largs. The town dwellers, who had come to see Fairlie as their second home, joined together with the villagers to raise the very considerable sum of £629 to build a "chapel of ease".
This was a small church to make it easier for those who lived some distance from their parish church. It had its own minister but both he and his elders were under the jurisdiction of the existing parish church in Largs. Amid general rejoicing the Chapel of Ease was opened on Sunday 13th April 1834. It is still in use and is now the nave of the present Parish Church.
Fairlie was soon to have a second church. Smouldering resentment at what many people regarded as intolerable state interference in church affairs led, in 1843, to the Disruption, which split the Scottish church in two.
In Fairlie, the then minister, Rev. Dr John Gemmel with four of his five elders and the majority of the congregation left the established Church and formed themselves into a congregation of the new Free Church of Scotland. Denied the use of church and school - though both had been provided by the Fairlie people themselves - they worshipped in a stable at Fairlie Lodge while once again they set about raising money to build themselves a new church. No list of subscribers has survived but all gave generously according to their means with the result that on Wednesday 31st July 1844, Fairlie Free Church was opened "free of debt and without assistance from the General Fund".
It subsequently became the Church Hall and has since been sold and is now a dwelling house, complete with swimming pool, where the worshippers used to sit.
For the rest of the 19th century the two Fairlie churches flourished, side by side. The Free Church (St Margaret's) was almost completely rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1879.
The tiny Parish Church (St Paul's) was extended during a series of alterations, a chancel, transepts and a spire were added. The enthusiasm and energy of the minister, Rev. Arthur Allan, ensured that the transformation of the church was carried through.
At the time, some thought that his ideas were too grandiose for a village church. The result, when the church was opened in July 1895 was "harmonious in style, quietly impressive". Later, from time to time, generous gifts from individual members or congregational projects beautified and adorned the two buildings.
Gradually, over the years, it came to be recognised that what separated the two congregations was much less important than the common beliefs that both held. In July 1967, Rev. Samuel Dempster died, creating a vacancy in St Paul's, and Rev. T.J. Gordon Weir, M.A., Ph.D., Minister of St Margaret's, offered to retire in the interests of Union.
Negotiations between the two churches and The Presbytery of Ardrossan began and were soon completed with friendliness and harmony. Eventually, the churches united and on 7th January 1968 became Fairlie Parish Church at a Service of Union conducted by Rev. George Balls, B.D., minister of St Cuthbert's South Beach Church, Ardrossan.
St Paul's Church became the place of worship and St Margaret's, after alterations, became the Church Hall.
Rev. Donald MacLeod, M.A., from Portree, Skye, became the first Minister of the United Charge of Fairlie Parish Church and was inducted on 28th August 1968. After Mr McLeod's retiral in 1979, the Rev. Robert J. Thorburn was inducted in June 1980.
In the Millennium year of 2000, the church underwent further transformation and enhancement with the replacement of pews by chairs giving an opportunity for multi-use. At the same time the 'Millennium Extension' gave another meeting room which, on Thursday mornings, is the 'Kirk Cafe'.
From 2006 until 2011 the Church was fortunate to have Rev. James Whyte as minister. His retiral left Fairlie Parish once again without charge until the vacancy was filled for three years by Rev. Christian Vermulen.
In March of 2019, Rev. Dr Graham McWilliams was inducted to the joint charge of Fairlie Parish linked with Largs: St. Columba's, bringing fresh life to this church.
So today we have one church in Fairlie. We inherited it from the past, from the work and witness of many people whom most of us never knew. We hold it in trust for the equally unknown Fairlie people of the future.
"The village needs the church, and the church needs the village"
THE NEW PARISH OF CUMBRAE, FAIRLIE AND LARGS
In the Autumn of 2023 there was a significant change to parishes in the Ardrossan Presbytery which involved combining the parishes of Cumbrae, Fairlie, Largs (St Columba's), Largs (St John's), and Largs (Clark Memorial).
THE WEATHER VANE - Latifa
"I feel the winds of God today;
Today my sail I lift,
Though heavy oft with drenching spray,
And torn with many a rift;
If hope but light the waters' crest,
And Christ my bark will use,
I'll seek the seas at His behest,
And brave another cruise."
Jessie Adams
Quite a few churches have ships as weather vanes but Fairlie Parish Church is probably unique in having a yacht. She is the yawl Latifa, built at Fairlie and launched in 1936. Constructed for ocean racing she was regarded by the late William Fife as his finest design and it was for that reason she was given her name - a Hebrew word meaning 'most beautiful' - and was chosen by the Misses Fife as their brother's memorial.
Latifa still sails the Caribbean and the Mediterranian; her scale model, sheathed in copper, swings always to windward on the spire of Fairlie Parish Church. Officially the weather vane recalls William Fife, O.B.E., J.P., who was described at the time of his death as 'a great genius, whose achievements will always occupy a leading place in the records of the yachting world'. But Latifa also represents hundreds of boats designed and built by three generations of the Fife family and is no less a tribute to the local craftsmen whose loving and meticulous work over the years gave so much pleasure to so many people and made Fairlie literally world famous among yachtsmen.
Acknowledgement to Mr David McNeur, D.A., who drew Latifa, originally for the cover of a church handbook.
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THE BANNER
The banner which hangs on the rear wall of the church was made and gifted to the church by members of the Women's Group.
The centre panel depicts the Cross of Christ, radiating beams of life, and the descending dove of the Holy Spirit, along with the legend "I am the Life".
Surrounding this panel are thirty smaller panels, each representing an individual impression of some aspect of the life of the village of Fairlie.
The Banner was accepted on behalf of the congregation and dedicated to the glory of God by the minister, Rev. Robert J. Thorburn, during the dedication service for the Woman's Group on Sunday 24th September 1989.
THE FAIRLIE STONE
The Fairlie Stone depicts, on the left, a man armed with a circular shield and sword, lying in a horizontal position; in the middle, a beast proceding towards the man with its mouth open as if ready to devour him; and on the right, a beast biting the end of its tail.
The figures on the stone are very similar to those on the side of the Inchinnan Cross Slab dating from the 9/10th century and also to Pictish carvings on the stones in Meigle and St Vigeans museums.
The figure of the 'fallen' man is apparently fairly unique and the iconography unclear, however, this stone is one of a limited number of early medieval sculptured stones in Scotland.
The Stone was recovered from the Chapel House in Kelburn estate. The Chapel House was built in 1745 on, according to an elderly resident in 1894, the site of an early Chapel. She said that she had helped to remove the ruins and what could not be moved away was blown up with gunpowder.
The Fairlie Stone had been used as a lintel over a fireplace and was conered in blacklead. The house was demolished in 1844-1845 and stones from it were used in the construction of the Free Church manse, later called St Margaret's Manse.
The stone was intended to be built over the door but it remained in the Manse garden, then later removed to St Margaret's Church and inset into the wall of the front vestibule.
Following the union of St Margaret's and St Paul's Churches the stone was removed and inset in the wall of the vestibule of the former St Paul's, known, since the union, as Fairlie Parish Church.
THE PANELLED CROSS
The Panelled Cross was originally presented to St Margaret's Church in 1952 by Ronald Tippet in memory of his wife, Isobel McLean, who died on 1st November 1950.
The Cross was removed from St Margaret's when the Church was converted to the Church Hall and positioned behind the pulpit of Fairlie Parish Church.
MUSIC AT FAIRLIE PARISH CHURCH
The music at Fairlie Parish Church contributes an important part of the worship during our weekly service. With the amalgamation of churches in the local area we have had a welcome boost to our numbers.
We meet every Sunday at 9am to rehearse the material needed for the service which starts at 9.30am.
The organ is also used during most services.
Singers who like to sing solo are welcome, as are those who prefer to remain part of the more 'choral' feel.
The music is all led by our Director of Music, Derek Gaudie.
We are of the belief that the church requires a variation of
material in order to accommodate all tastes so we strive to create this diversity with modernpraise songs and traditional hymns as well as choral pieces and we use all of these for our hymns, introits and anthems.
All ages and standards of playing are encouraged to make themselves known and get involved in the praise and worship of God as well as having a little fun too!
