A portion of what appears to have been a carved altar-piece has been preserved in the church (Fig. 869). It consists of two panels, which have evidently formed part of a series, representing scenes in our Lord’s Passion and death. The panel on the left shows the scene in the garden, with the three apostles asleep; and the panel on the right exhibits the betrayal. [Illustration: FIG. 869.--St. Michael’s Parish Church. Carved Altar-piece.] The Church of St. Michael’s is one of the largest of the ancient parish churches of Scotland. The wall which separated the nave and choir has recently been removed, and the whole thrown into one church. In 1559 the building was taken possession of by the Lords of the Congregation, in their march from Perth to Edinburgh, when the altars and images were destroyed, the figure of St. Michael (see Fig. 866) only escaping demolition. The steeple contains three old bells--one dated 1490, and the other two recast during the eighteenth century. ST. MONANS CHURCH, FIFESHIRE. St. Monans is the name of one of the numerous fishing villages on the Fifeshire coast of the Frith of Forth, and lies about three miles west from Anstruther. The village derives its name from St. Monan, who, by tradition, is believed to have been a missionary to the Picts in the eighth century, and to have suffered martyrdom by the Danes on the Isle of May. His body is said to have been buried on the mainland; and over it a small chapel was subsequently erected, which had a reputation for cures. Dr. Skene, however, thinks that St. Monan was Bishop of Clonfert, and that his relics were brought from Ireland to Fife about 845, and deposited in a church erected in his honour.[162] This original chapel was replaced with a larger edifice by David II. in 1362, in gratitude for his miraculous escape, through St. Monan’s influence, from the fatal effects of the barb of an arrow with which he was wounded at Durham. Sir William Dishington, of the adjoining estate of Ardross, was appointed master of the works;[163] and between 1362 and 1370 the sum of £613, 7s. was paid to him in connection with the fabric, besides £6, 13s. 4d. for the carpenter work. Dishington hired a ship from a burgess of Inverness to convey timber from there for the building; and there appear to have been three freights, which cost for transit £20, £10, and £7, 17s. 8d. In 1364 and 1366, before the church was finished, there are payments to at least three chaplains celebrating at St. Monans, two of whom had £10 and the other 20 merks yearly.[164]