Crail Parish church has come up with a novel scheme, using a piece of Kirk history, to raise funds to help pay for expensive repair work to its historic church tower. A large number of communion tokens were recently found within the kirk. The reformed Church of Scotland was established in 1560 and in 1588 introduced a system of communion tokens which changed to the present-day communion cards in the mid-19th century. The oldest surviving token is dated 1648. The Crail collection contained substantial numbers from 1728 and 1829. The smaller 1798 token is circular and made of lead, the 1829 token is square; made of an alloy of lead and tin and bear the inscription ' This do in remembrance of me'. Crail Kirk has decided to sell the communion tokens towards the cost of the tower repairs thus making available a piece of history at a very reasonable price. A wallet set containing a token from both periods is available, plus a booklet on history of Crail Church, for £25. The Crail Kirk tokens can be purchased at the kirk's weekly coffee morning in the Crail Kirk hall ( Wednesday 10am to noon ), the local Post Office or from the Church Treasurer Thomas K Preston, 1 Temple Crescent, Crail, Fife KY10 3RS ( tel 01333 450 273 ). As well as looking after the Crail Kirk finances, Tom has also been Scots Independent Business Manager since 1958.

 

The picturesque Royal Burgh of Crail is a popular stopping place on the Fife Coastal Route with the harbour and Kirk being among the most visited attractions. Settlement in Crail dates back to prehistoric times, a castle was built by David 1 in the 12th century, which fell into ruin in the 16th century, and in 1310 Robert 1, The Bruce, confirmed Crail's status as a Royal Burgh with the right to hold markets on a Sunday. The town's Marketgate became one of largest marketplaces in medieval Europe. You can still see the Burgh's Mercat Cross on your way to visit Crail Kirk and don't miss The Blue Stane which lies near the church gate. According to local legend it was thrown from the Isle of May by the Devil in an attempt to damage Crail Kirk. The stone split mid-air, one piece landing beside the kirk and the other landing on Balcomie Beach near Fife Ness, the most easterly point of Fife. Behind the church stands a 19th century morthouse where bodies awaiting burial were locked away to deter bodysnatchers who sold them to University anatomists.

 

The Crail Kirk communion tokens are the inspiration for this week's recipe - Scripture Cake - which is based on ingredients mentioned in the Good Book and like the tokens this cake is presented as a piece of history.

 

Scripture Cake

 

Ingredients :

 

 1.  8 oz ( 225 g ) Judges V : 25, last clause ( butter )

 2.  8 oz ( 225 g ) Jeremiah V1 : 20 ( sugar )

 3.  1 tablespoon ( 1 15 ml spoon ) 1 Samuel X1V : 25 ( honey )

 4.  3 Jeremiah XV11 : 11 ( eggs )

 5.  8 oz ( 225 g ) 1 Samuel XXX : 12, chopped ( raisins )

 6.  2 oz ( 50 g ) Numbers XV11 : 8, blanched ( almonds )

 7.  8 oz ( 225 g ) Nahum 111 : 12 chopped ( figs )

 8.  1 lb ( 450 g ) 1 Kings 1V : 22 ( flour )

 9.  Season 11 Chronicles 1X : 9 ( spices )

10. Pinch Leviticus 11 : 13 ( salt )

11. 1 teaspoon ( 1 5 ml spoon ) Amos 1V : 5 ( baking powder )

12. 3 tablespoons ( 45 ml ) Judges 1V : 19 ( milk )

 

Beat numbers 1, 2, 3 to a cream. Add 4, one at a time. Add 5, 6, 7 and beat well. Add 8, 9, 10, and 11, having mixed them together. Lastly add 12. Put in a lined tin and bake in a slow oven at 150 deg C, 300 deg F, Gas Mark 2 for one-and -a half hours.