St Andrews Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrews Cathedral |
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| The Cathedral of St Andrew | |
The Cathedral of St Andrews east tower
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| 56°20′24″N 2°47′15″W / 56.3400°N 2.7875°W | |
| Location | St Andrews |
| Country | Scotland |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Ruined |
| Founded | 1158 |
| Founder(s) | Ernald |
| Dedicated | 1318 |
| Relics held | Bones of St. Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Gothic |
| Closed | 1561 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 391 ft (119 m) |
| Width | 168 ft (51 m) |
| Height | 100 ft (30 m) |
The Cathedral of St Andrew, often called St Andrews Cathedral, is a very old, ruined church in St Andrews, Scotland. It was built in 1158. For a long time, it was the most important church for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. It was the main church for the Bishops and Archbishops of St Andrews.
The cathedral stopped being used and fell into ruin after the Scottish Reformation in the 1500s. During this time, Catholic church services were made illegal. Today, it is a protected monument looked after by Historic Environment Scotland. The ruins show that the building was about 119 meters (391 feet) long. This makes it the largest church ever built in Scotland.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
How it Started and Grew
The cathedral was built because the older church of St. Regulus (also called St. Rule) was too small. This older church was built in the Romanesque style. It is on the same land as the cathedral.
Today, you can still see its square tower, which is 33 meters (108 feet) tall. There is also a small part of its choir area. Old maps show other buildings were once connected to it. Even older than St. Rule's church is the Church of St Mary on the Rock. This was a very early Christian site.
Building the new cathedral started in 1158. It took over 100 years to finish. A big storm blew down the west end of the church. It was rebuilt between 1272 and 1279. The cathedral was finally completed in 1318. It had a central tower and six smaller towers. Two of these eastern towers and one western tower still stand. They are about 30 meters (100 feet) tall.
On July 5, 1318, the cathedral was officially opened. King Robert I was there. Legend says he rode his horse up the main aisle! A fire partly damaged the building in 1378. It was repaired and made even grander by 1440.
The cathedral was run by a group of Augustinian Canons. They were a type of religious community. They took over from the earlier Christian group called the Culdees. Other religious groups, like the Greyfriars and Blackfriars, also had buildings in the town.
Why the Cathedral Became a Ruin
In June 1559, during the Reformation, a group of Protestants attacked the cathedral. They were encouraged by the preacher John Knox. The inside of the building was destroyed. After this attack, the cathedral was not used anymore. People started taking stones from it to build other things in the town. By 1561, it was completely abandoned and left to fall apart.
Around the late 1500s, the central tower fell down. It also brought down part of the north wall. More parts of the ruins were taken away for building. Nothing was done to protect the ruins until 1826. Since then, it has been carefully looked after. You can see the original floor plan of the building marked out in the grass. The main parts that are still standing include the east and west ends. Also, much of the south wall of the main hall (nave) and the west wall of the south transept remain.
At the end of the 1600s, some of the old monastery buildings were still standing. But now, almost all traces of them are gone. Only parts of the monastery wall and some archways, called The Pends, can still be seen.
St Rule's Tower
St Rule's Tower is inside the cathedral grounds. But it is much older than the cathedral itself. It was part of the church that served the monastery before the large cathedral was built. This old church was kept so people could continue to worship while the new, bigger church was being built.
The tower and the area next to it were part of a church built in the 11th century. This church was made to hold the bones of St Andrew. The rest of that old church, like its main hall and rounded end, no longer exist. Old pictures show what the church looked like.
Legend says that St Rule brought the bones of St Andrew to this area. St Andrew was an important Christian saint. Today, you can climb the tower for amazing views of the town, the harbor, the sea, and the countryside. The tower is beautifully built from grey stone. It is very tall for its age (33 meters). It was a landmark that could be seen from far away. This helped guide pilgrims who were coming to see St Andrew's bones. In the Middle Ages, the tower had a spire on top, making it even taller. Originally, people used ladders to climb the tower. But a stone spiral staircase was added in the 1700s.
Burials at the Cathedral
Many important people were buried at St Andrews Cathedral. These included several bishops who played a big role in the church's history. For example, William de Lamberton, who helped rebuild the cathedral, was buried near the main altar. James Kennedy (bishop) was buried in a grand tomb he had built.
The cathedral grounds also have a large cemetery. Many notable people from St Andrews are buried there. This includes famous golfers like Young Tom Morris and Old Tom Morris. Also, many university professors and ministers are buried in the cemetery.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de St. Andrews para niños
