The Church of St Regulus (or St Rule) was a much smaller building than the Cathedral whose ruins are pictured above. Until modern times the Cathedral was the largest edifice ever built in Scotland and probably contained the largest collection of medieval art ever gathered together in Scotland. Building started in about 1160 and it began to be used as a Cathedral and priory some 70 years later. After 110 years, it was nearly complete but the West gable was blown down in a storm. The Cathedral was not finally consecrated until 1318, in the presence of Robert the Bruce.The great Cathedral was a centre of pilgrimage in Scotland during the High Middle Ages, principally because of the presence of the relics of St Andrew.
3 comments:
I've always been curious as to the fate of St. Andrew's relics. From what I understand they just disappeared during the chaos of the Reformation.
But it boggles my mind that even Calvinists would destroy or lose track of 1. an apostle and disciple of Jesus Christ, 2. the namesake of the city, 3. its big moneymaker.
Do you know any stories about what happened to the relics? Does some Old Catholic family have it, just waiting for the right moment to bring it back?
The Calvinists were very anti-relic and they were probably destroyed.
Thank you for this question. I have done a post about St Andrew's relics.
They were also very anti-monastic - I was at Jedburgh yesterday for a funeral - very sad to see the remains of the beautiful Abbey there. What a bunch of hooligans the 'Reformers' were
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