Tour Scotland early Spring 4K travel video, with Scottish bagpipes music, of a road trip drive to the parish church and graveyard on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to Upper Largo in the East Neuk of Fife, Britain, United Kingdom. The Church of Largo or Largauch was presented to the nuns of North Berwick, in 1160 and was re-dedicated in 1243. In a charter of 1502. This Scottish church was eventually dedicated to Saint Serf and belonged prior to the Reformation to the Abbey of Dunfermline. Between the years 1522 and 1539 the old church was rebuilt by the Archbishop of St Andrews and this building was later replaced in 1815 by the present church. Records show that here has been an established Church in the Parish for well over 1100 years, since the reign of King Angus of Scotland. The church is located in Upper Largo or Kirkton of Largo. The original cemetery was the graveyard that surrounds Largo Kirk. The new cemetery was opened in 1859 and, involved the architect George Birrell, son of Hugh Birrell a builder architect based in Drumeldrie. The Patron Saint of Largo, Largauch, is Saint Leonard who was born in 496 AD and died 559 AD. He was a Frankish saint closely associated with the town and abbey of Saint Leonard de Noblat in Haute Vienne in the Limousin region of France. Largo along with Kilconquhar, Maybole and Logie was given to the Monastery of the Cisterian Order of Nuns of St Mary at North Berwick by Earl Duncan II of Fife. This was confirmed by Bishop William Malvoisin of St Andrews between 1204 and 1228 with the stipulation that the nuns must preserve the vicarage at Largo to the south west of the church held by Master Hugh the physician, for his lifetime, thereafter present a suitable vicar to hold the vicarage for the service of the parish church. There is some evidence that the church had been established in Largo in the reign of King Angus of Scotland. The church was reconsecrated by David de Bernham, Bishop of St Andrews on Friday 17 th July 1243. The oldest existing part of the building is the Chancel which was built in 1623. It is possible that as the walls are thicker at the bottom this constituted part of the original building. The steeple dates from 1628 and the bell from 1636. It was possibly enlarged about 1688. The wall around the graveyard dates to 1657, as attested by a tablet set into the West wall just north of the steps leading up to the church. It has two early nineteenth century gatehouses set into the walls at the north east entrance. The Largo Stone is protected by a metal grille. In front of the west elevation is a grave of the Selkirk family, surrounded by seashells. Alexander Selkirk, whom Daniel Defoe immortalised as Robinson Crusoe, was formerly a member of this parish. The churchyard, which is no longer in use, has a number of eighteenth century gravestones with interesting mortality carvings. The date for astronomical spring is Sunday 20th March, ending on Tuesday 21st June, while by the meteorological calendar, spring will start on Tuesday 1st March. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. When driving on Scottish roads in Scotland slow down and enjoy the trip
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