Church of St Mary on the Rock facts for kids
The Church of St Mary on the Rock, also known as St Mary's Collegiate Church, was an important church in St Andrews, Scotland. It was home to a group of priests called a "secular college." This church was located right by the sea, near the famous St Andrews Cathedral. It was also known by other names like St Mary of the Culdees and Kirkheugh.
St Mary's was the first church of its kind in Scotland, founded around the 1240s. It continued the work of an older group of clergy known as the Culdees or Céli Dé, which means "vassals of God." The church served the community for several centuries. However, it did not last long after the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century. Today, only a few parts of the original building remain.
Contents
The Early Days: The Céli Dé Priests
The story of St Mary's Collegiate Church began with a group of priests called the "Culdees" or Céli Dé. These priests were part of the Kilrymont monastery. They served a special altar in the Cathedral during the 1100s and early 1200s. The Céli Dé had a leader called an abbot. We only know the name of one abbot, Gille Críst, who was active around 1172-1178.
Before the Augustinian priory was built in 1140, the Céli Dé and seven other clerics were the main religious figures at the cathedral. When the new Augustinian monks arrived, they were meant to take over as the main clergy. In 1147, Pope Eugenius III even confirmed that the Augustinians had the right to choose the Bishop of St Andrews.
It seems that Bishop Robert, who was an Augustinian himself, wanted the Céli Dé to join the Augustinians. This would have brought their property into the new Cathedral Priory. But this did not happen. Even though a papal order in 1147 said that an Augustinian should replace each Céle Dé when they died, the Céli Dé were still there in 1199.
A Second Group of Clergy
Some historians believe that the bishops of St Andrews, like Roger de Beaumont and William de Malveisin, wanted the Céli Dé to become a second important group of clergy for the cathedral. This was a way for the bishops to balance the power of the Augustinian monks.
For example, in the early 1200s, Bishop William de Malveisin often sided with the Céli Dé in arguments with the Augustinian prior. In 1220, Pope Honorius III even sent someone to help solve a dispute between the Augustinians and the bishop, along with "certain clergy of St Andrews commonly called Céli Dé."
The Céli Dé also started to claim the right to help choose the bishop. In 1239, they took part in the election of David de Bernham. Later, in 1253, after Bishop David died, the Augustinians chose a new bishop. But the Céli Dé protested to the Pope, saying their exclusion made the election invalid. The Pope agreed and cancelled the election, appointing a different bishop.
Becoming a Collegiate Church
Over time, the original Gaelic-speaking Céli Dé priests were slowly replaced by new clerks. Many of these new priests came from France or England and spoke French or English. By 1250, these new Céli Dé had moved to the Church of St Mary. They were given the special status of a "secular college," which means they became a collegiate church.
This change likely happened in 1248 or 1249. This was the first time the Church of St Mary was mentioned as a separate institution from the cathedral. This made St Mary's the very first collegiate church in Scotland! It was also the only secular college in the kingdom before the 1300s.
The first known leader of the church was Master Adam de Malkarviston, recorded in 1250. Besides the leader, there were six other priests called canons. Even with its new status, the church was still sometimes called "St Marys of the Céli Dé" as late as 1344. The Church of St Mary also became an official royal chapel, serving the king, from 1286 until 1501.
In 1386, the leader of St Mary's, called the Provost, was allowed to join the main group of clergy at St Andrews Cathedral. This meant he had a voice in important decisions, like choosing the bishop.
Church Funding and Priests
The Church of St Mary had different sources of income, called "prebends," which supported its priests. We don't know the exact number of prebends throughout history. However, during the time of Bishop Henry Wardlaw, there were eight prebends. These included lands like "Cairns and Cameron" and "Kinglassie and Kingask."
The Céli Dé had owned some of these lands, like Lambieletham, since the 1100s. Other lands, like Fetteresso and Strathbrock, were given to the church by Bishop Henry Wardlaw in the 1400s. More lands were added later in the 1400s and 1500s, such as Arbuthnott and Dysart. It is believed there were thirteen prebends by the time of the Reformation.
Where the Church Stood
The church was located at a place called Kirkheugh or Kirkhill. This spot, where North Street and South Street meet today, might have been a religious site even before the cathedral was built. Old burials found nearby suggest there was a small religious community there as early as the 500s. Cross-slabs from the 900s were also found on the grounds.
According to John Lesley, the church was torn down by Protestants in June 1559 during the Reformation.
The remaining foundations of the church show that it was shaped like a cross. It did not have side aisles. The main altar was at the eastern end of the church. Many parts of the church, like the seats for the priests and their living quarters, are now lost.
Leaders of the Church
Known Provosts (Leaders)
- Adam de Makerstoun, 1250–1280s
- William Comyn, 1287–1329
- John de Roxburgh, 1329–1363
- Gilbert Armstrong, 1362–1376
- William de Dalgarnoch, 1376–1377
- Duncan Petit, 1376–1398
- Robert de Lany, 1397–1437
- Hugh Kennedy, 1437–1454
- John Kennedy, 1454–1477
- William Scherar, 1472–1480
- James Allardice, 1477–1507
- James Kincragy, 1506–1540
- James Lermont, 1540–1578
- Thomas Buchanan, 1578–1599
- Robert Buchanan, 1599–1618
See also
- St Nicholas Hospital, St Andrews
