St Andrews - 12

The Dominicans, or Blackfriars, probably came to St Andrews around 1464, and came to be closely associated with the University. Their buildings were largely destroyed at the Reformation; only a side-chapel remains which dates from a rebuilding operation of around 1576.

Corpus Christi

Here we see Benediction during the Corpus Christi Procession held by the Transalpine Redemptorists on the island of Stronsay.



Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour,
first-begotten from the dead.
Thou alone, our strong defender,
liftest up thy people's head.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Jesus, true and living bread!

Here our humblest homage pay we,
here in loving reverence bow;
here for faith's discernment pray we,
lest we fail to know thee now.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou art here, we ask not how.

Though the lowliest form doth veil thee
as of old in Bethlehem,
here as there thine angels hail thee,
branch and flower of Jesse's stem.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We in worship join with them.

Paschal Lamb, thine offering, finished
once for all when thou was slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall for evermore remain.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Cleansing souls from every stain.

Life-imparting heavenly Manna,
stricken Rock with streaming side,
heaven and earth with loud hosanna
worship thee, the Lamb who died.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Risen, ascended, glorified!

George Hugh Bourne, 1874

Happy Sunday!

St Andrews - 11

Here we see Canon John Law writing his chronicle.



About 1144 Bishop Robert had founded a community of Augustinian canons to serve as his cathedral chapter.

These canons provided services, maintained the building and performed administrative duties, as well as living according to their monastic rule around the cloister to the south of the cathedral.

The Augustinians traditionally also had intellectual interests, and after the formal establishment of the University of St Andrews in 1413 several of the canons came to play an active role there. In 1512 St Leonard's College was founded by the then head of the community, Prior John Hepburn.

About 1521 Canon John Law, the sacristan - responsible for the care of the church and its contents - wrote a chronicle which provided valuable information about St Andrews. He later attended the University, and eventually became Principal of St Leonard's College.

St Andrews - 10

Here we see the future King James I being taught in the Castle by Bishop Henry Wardlaw.



In 1412, the learned Bishop Henry Wardlaw issued the foundation charter of what was to become the University of St Andrews. Bishop Henry was an excellent teacher, and had the future King James I as one of his pupils. There is no record of whether he was a good pupil!

St Andrews - 9

Here we see King James II discussing important issues with Bishop James Kennedy.



During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries St Andrew's Castle reached its peak as the splendid residence of one of the most powerful men in the Kingdom.

The bishops and archbishops of St Andrews were closely associated with the Scottish royal court and often entertained noble and Royal guests. For this purpose the main rooms would have been lavishly adorned with decorative trappings suitable to the occasion, exuding a magnificence virtually unmatched in Scotland at this time.

In the 1450's the youthful King James II frequently stayed at the castle. There he discussed political problems with his influential host, Bishop James Kennedy.

The heyday of the castle was probably in the time of Archbishop James Beaton (1521-1539) renowned for his extravagant hospitality, and of his nephew, David Beaton, who succeeded him and became a major political figure during the minority of Mary Queen of Scots.

St Andrews - 8

Whilst the castle was being built, work on the cathedral continued.



St Rule's church proved too small as a cathedral, and about 1160 Bishop Arnold started work on an ambitious project to build a much grander and more appropriate building. However, this magnificent new cathedral was not to be completed for over a century.

By the late 1270's, in the time of William Wishart, who became bishop in 1271, much of the main building was nearing completion. Before it was finished, however, the west gable was blown down during a great storm. Wishart began rebuilding immediately, but he died soon after.

Eventually the cathedral was completed and consecrated by Bishop de Lamberton on 5 July 1318 - and what a day of rejoicing that was!



Sadly, the building was to suffer once more when it was damaged by fire in 1378.

Today is the 57th Anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey.

St Andrews - 7

Here we see Bishop Roger de Beaumont supervising the building of the early castle.



The bishops, later archbishops of St Andrews occupied a leading position in the Scottish church, and were also among the great men of the kingdom.

Bishop Roger de Beaumont, Chancellor of Scotland, built the castle about the year 1200 to provide essential protection for himself and his property, and as a reflection of his status. However, most of what still stands today dates from later periods, because the earlier structure was destroyed during the Wars of Independence, in the first half of the fourteenth century.

After 1385 the new bishop, Walter Trail, rebuilt the castle from its foundations; the pentagonal layout he established remained the basis for all its later development.