Religion

In contrast to John Ogilvie's fate, the religious history of Keith has always been one of tolerance. All faiths respect each other, now as in the past. Four churches remain, the UP Church built in 1852 having been demolished in 1925. St. Rufus, the Parish Church, is a fine Gothic building dating from 1816, while the North Church, formerly Free Church, is of Elizabethan design. The Episcopal community, no longer 'Established' after 1688, built a Church in Mid Street, now part of Annand's Ironmongers, before moving to Holy Trinity in Seafield Avenue. There, pride of place is given to the Seabury Chair, where the first Bishop was consecrated for the Church in America. The Roman Catholics had from 1783 a chapel and cottage at Kempcairn, but Father Low raised funds for the present St. Thomas, Chapel Street, opened in 1832, and extended with its copper dome in 1916. Its treasured possession is a painting by Francois Dubois of 'The Incredulitv of St. Thomas', commissioned and presented by King Charles X of France and lately restored. Here, in 1976, the BBC presented 'Scots Praise', specially noteworthy for its joint blessing by all Keith's clergy together, symbolic of the accord that still exists.