This position gave it importance in the old days while travelling by coach, for the stage road ran through Kennoway from the ferry at Pettycur, through Ceres, and on to St Andrews.

Merleswain's charter, datable to 1172x1178, granted the church with all its associated teinds and oblations, together with various lands held at that time by Simeon the parish priest.

(4) Papal confirmations were secured with regularity from the first mention in a bull of Pope Alexander III c.1174 down to Innocent IV in 1246.

(8) This re-grant appears to have been the catalyst which enabled the priory to secure greater control of Kennoway, Bishop David de Bernham in 1240 confirming it to them in proprios usus with suitable provision for a vicar.

It appears first as the vicarage of Kenmanthin (the church is usually named Kennachin in the St Andrews records), paying 10s in tax.