St Drostan

The secret behind St Drostan's Markinch lies in its proximity to the moot hill of Fife where court cases were heard by its patron, the MacDuff earl of Fife. This was the capital place of Fife and its church matched that status. The tower and probably the nave attic were planned for defence. Worship would have taken place in the nave and chancel. Such joint usage was outlawed by the pope in 1123. As the most prominent church along the Pilgrim Way to St Andrews it would have hosted pilgrim traffic up until the Reformation. Recent archaeological excavation of a five metre high arch behind the 19th century plaster has been left open for visitors, and a spectacular mural replicates the remains of the arch still embedded in the walls. Over 800 stonemasons' banker marks and related graffiti have been uncovered. The previous church underneath the 12th century building is referred to in a charter dating back to the time of King MacBeth and Queen Grouch of Scotland. 

Subsequent earls of Fife hosted royal guests here such as the King Malcolm's brother, the Earl of Huntingdon who set his seal to a document in return for the annual gift of a goshawk. Later royal visitors included Edward I who pitched at Markinch on his triumphant tour of Scotland in July 1296. He referred to the church as a "minster" and this may have been due to its size and splendour. Cardinal Beaton funded a lavish tomb here for his parents and there is a local belief that he himself was once buried under the floor after his murder in 1546. The main part of the church was destroyed at the Reformation but occasional "souvenirs" crop up in neighbouring gardens.

The later 19th century part of the church is a brightly-lit building with a large balcony and windows on all four sides. The church commands a spectacular view over Fife towards the Forth and is a stopping-off point for modern day pilgrims.