In Scotland, an important church in history is St. Andrew’s Cathedral. The ruins are found situated next to the North Sea, where examples of medieval architecture and ancient artifacts are on display. In this article, you will learn some of the history of the church, as well as what still stands from the once-majestic structure.
The history of St. Andrew’s Cathedral begins during the 6th century when the Christian faith was introduced to the region. A Celtic religious community was founded by St. Kenneth and developed at the site, which was known at the time as Mucross (which translated into “Headland of the Wild Boar”). Later on, it was given the name of Kilrymont (“Cell of the King’s Mount”).
During the 8th century, the king of the Picts founded a church dedicated to St. Andrew, who was a fisherman and brother of St. Peter. He was quite important to the people, as he was adopted as the patron saint of the Picts and later of Scotland. Once the church received the relics of St. Andrew during the 8th century, a mass of pilgrims made the journey to visit the city, which they started to call St Andrews.
If you ever get a chance to visit the Scotland, the cathedral is not the only attraction.
The ruins of St Andrew’s Cathedral are quite a popular draw, as it stretches across a grassy plateau that gives a gorgeous views of the North Sea when you are on the east side of town. It took a long time for the construction of the cathedral , from 1160 to 1318. Because of this, you will see examples of both Norman and early Gothic styles of architecture. At one time, St Andrews Cathedral was the largest church in Scotland. What stands today is a shadow of its former self. Because of looting and years of neglect, you can see the foundations of the church along with the east façade. Some of the features include twin spires that enclosed the presbytery where the relics of St. Andrew were held.
Head south of the cathedral to catch sight of the cloister, where you will find a ruined chapter house and undamaged undercroft, where the Cathedral Museum has been set up. A collection of artifacts from St Andrews Cathedral and the monastery are on display here. St Andrews’ sarcophagus dating back to 800 AD is also kept here. This artifact is significant because it represents a gem in the art world. The carvings and side panels of the tomb show scenes in high relief regarding the Old Testament story of David. Images of exotic and mythological animals have also been added, such as a griffin biting the neck of a mule and a pair of monkeys.
Other sights associated with St. Andrew include the Church of St. Rule (dating back to around 1130) and the church of St Mary on the Rock, which is thought to be the site where St. Andrews founded his first church.