st andrews cathedral 1 St Andrews Cathedral was once the most important religious site INVESTIGatinG in the whole of Scotland. Today the cathedral is in ruins but it is still an ST andrEWS impressive and inspiring site. cathEdral Information for Teachers investigating historic sites HISTORIC SCOTLAND education st andrews cathedral 2 St Andrews Cathedral was once Gales caused widespread destruction the most important religious site in the 1270s and during his occupation Timeline in the whole of Scotland. Today the in the Wars of Independence, Edward Early 8th century Arrival cathedral is in ruins but it is still I of England ordered the stripping of of relics associated with an impressive and inspiring site. lead from the roof for ammunition. St Andrew; religious The cathedral was finally consecrated foundation established Teachers will find it a vivid focal point for discussion of church life in 1318, attended by King Robert the c1120s Building of St and the effects of the Reformation Bruce, who, according to legend, rode Rule’s church begins in Scotland. up the aisle on a horse. 1160s Construction of cathedral and Historical background The scale and wealth of the building Augustinian priory begins was dazzling. The longest church – and There was already an important the biggest building of any kind − in 1272 West end of nave religious community at St Andrews, blown down in gale Scotland, it was an impressive seat for known then as Kilrymont, in the 8th the bishops of the Scottish Church. The 1318 Consecration of century. It grew in status with the arrival cathedral also housed the priory, living cathedral in presence of of relics associated with the martyred King Robert the Bruce quarters of the canons who maintained apostle St Andrew. Traditionally these the cathedral. The town thrived around 1378 Major fire relics consisted of an arm bone, three the cathedral and benefited from the fingers, a tooth, and a knee cap. These 1409 Part of south visitors it beckoned. transept blown down in relics were interred in a shrine which, by gale the 10th century, had become a major The life of this awesome complex of 1547 Cathedral used by place of pilgrimage for travellers from buildings, however, came to an abrupt state authorities as site all across Europe. The pilgrims in turn end in 1559 with the Reformation. for bombardment of provided a valuable source of income Following a rousing sermon against castle for construction work. idolatry by preacher John Knox, the 1559 Cathedral interior of the cathedral was sacked In 1123 Robert became bishop and furnishings destroyed by a Protestant mob. Worship at the established the Augustinian priory St by Protestant mob; cathedral ceased almost immediately Rule’s, whose church and tower is still cathedral abandoned and the site declined into a source of standing today at the cathedral site. 1561 Cathedral building material and latterly a favoured ‘unroofed’ In the 1160s Bishop Arnold initiated the local burial ground. 1586 Central bell tower building of a vast new cathedral. The collapses building work suffered many setbacks. 1893 Repairs carried out by marquis of Bute on priory buildings 1946 Cathedral and site entrusted to state care HISTORIC SCOTLAND education st andrews cathedral 3 Supporting learning and teaching A visit to St Andrews Cathedral Before the visit • Help pupils gain a clearer grasp of is particularly appropriate for the time scale by making a timeline • Pilgrim Tour: Our suggested tour teachers woking on class study with them, counting back the encourages pupils to imagine they topics such as: centuries and then marking on key are pilgrims visiting the site. Pupils • The Middle Ages events. This could be added to after will gain most from this approach if • Castles the visit. • The Reformation they are well prepared. Working on-site Many teachers will visit the Preparations could include: cathedral precinct in combination Pupils should be encouraged to look • Deciding why they are coming with a visit to nearby St Andrews for physical evidence. Useful starting Castle. The history of the two on pilgrimage; many came to do points are: sites is closely intertwined, the penance for a crime or sin. castle being home of the cathedral • What materials were used to • Discussion of clothing worn by bishops. At the castle pupils can construct the cathedral? find out more about how the pilgrims; dressing up. Costumes may bishops lived and can experience be available on site – ask about this • What evidence is there for everyday the unique mine and countermine. when booking. life in the priory? There is also an excellent exhibition in the Visitor Centre there with • Planning a route and discussing • How was the cathedral protected displays about the building of the transport. against intruders? cathedral and the Reformation. • Making and wearing pilgrim badges • Can you see any ways in which the The Curriculum for Excellence based on the one shown below. cathedral has changed? aspires to motivate and challenge pupils through a wide range of • It would be helpful if pupils had On the Historic Scotland website: varied learning experiences. Site an idea of some of the key terms www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ visits have a particular role to play relating to the Cathedral and priory education_unit teachers can find in joining up learning outcomes across the curriculum. A visit, and life, e.g. nave, tower, aisle, altar, additional resources to help with work use of the supporting materials, relic, bishop, canon, prior, priory, on site. These include compiling an will help to: cloister, spire, chapel, Reformation, Evidence Record and a My Impressions • develop successful learners by John Knox. Record. challenging pupils to consider • The cathedral has changed how life has changed for people. Suggestions for follow-up work dramatically over the years. Discuss It will help them to think Following the visit pupils can pool their critically about evidence and with pupils how and why buildings findings in groups to create a fuller arrive at their own conclusions. change. Discuss how wind and record of the cathedral and the lives • develop confident individuals. weather can affect a building as well of the people who visited, lived, and Pupils wilI learn about aspects of as the deliberate destruction of the worked there. This could form the basis their community’s past, develop Protestant Reformation. an understanding of social for a range of presentation activities, changes, establish some of their • The role of the church in everyday for example: own values and communicate life in medieval times is hard for • A guide book for future visitors. their views on different historical today’s children to grasp. Research and social issues. into everyday life at this time will • A slide show with commentary of • develop responsible citizens. It help show its influence. It would also their visit. will help to increase pupils’ social help if pupils had some idea of what and historical knowledge and • Imaginative writing based on the understanding and encourage a priory is and what canons did. journey of the pilgrim or on the lives greater respect for their own • Pupils could research the life of of the canons in the priory. historic and built environment. St Andrew. How do they think his • develop effective contributors bones ended up here? Do they by broadening pupils’ knowledge and understanding through believe that they did? investigative, creative and critical thinking. HISTORIC SCOTLAND education st andrews cathedral 4 Plan of St Andrews Cathedral On the Pilgrim Trail To bring the ruined cathedral to life, our suggested tour invites pupils to imagine that they are medieval pilgrims journeying to the shrine of St Andrew. Text in purple is meant to be the view of a visiting 15th century pilgrim. 7 We encourage pupils 3 6 also to ‘read the stones’ 2 5 and look for examples 8 of where and how the 4 1 cathedral building has been altered and what it might have been like when complete. This tour takes in eight locations, marked on the Plan of St Andrews Cathedral plan to the right: 1. West Front 2. Nave 3. East End 4. Cloister 5. Chapter House 6. St Rule’s Tower 7. Precinct Wall 8. Museum and Visitor Centre Background information is given in the pack for each location. It is written in fairly simple language so that it can be read aloud to pupils if desired. Also included are suggested questions for discussion. Allow about an hour for this suggested tour. A cut-away reconstruction of the cathedral and priory from the southwest HISTORIC SCOTLAND education st andrews cathedral 5 Tour notes: On the pilgrim trail Did you know... Outside St Andrews Cathedral: The West Front Pilgrims wore a special Stand in front of the west entrance, beside the information panel. uniform of a cloak with a wide-brimmed hat Setting the scene. This can be read aloud to pupils. decorated with badges Let’s go back in time about 600 years to the year 1400. Let’s imagine we are a group of from shrines? They always travellers from far away... carried a wooden stick We have been travelling for many days – long miles on foot and even worse miles on the with a water container ferry boat from North Berwick. Some of us are even travelling barefoot. We all want and a special satchel to visit this cathedral because inside it are some of the holy bones of St Andrew. We called a scrip. Everyone are known as pilgrims. God will be pleased with us because we have made the difficult who saw them would journey. At last our sins will be forgiven. Maybe He will make miracles happen for us.