The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 1/3MacGibbon, David
History
The ecclesiastical architecture of Scotland from the earliest Christian times to the seventeenth century; vol. 1/3
MacGibbon, David
Church architecture -- Scotland
Further particulars of the history of Restennet, and of its early Celtic
importance, with a very minute and illustrated description, will be
found in the _Archæologia Scotica_, Vol. V., Part 2. There can be no
doubt of the great antiquity of the tower; and, as pointed out by Mr.
Galloway in the above paper, its features associate it with Irish
architecture. It may, therefore, be classed along with the towers of
Abernethy and Brechin; but it is of a ruder, and possibly earlier, type
than they are.
ST. REGULUS’, OR ST. RULE’S, ST. ANDREWS, FIFESHIRE.
This remarkable edifice stands in the ancient churchyard at a distance
of fully 100 feet south-east from the Cathedral of St. Andrews (_q.v._)
St. Regulus’ was, doubtless, the Cathedral Church of St. Andrews before
the edifice, afterwards constructed as the Cathedral, and now ruinous,
existed.
The early occupation of the site of St. Andrews for religious purposes
is referred to in the Introduction.[142] Cellach was the first Bishop of
St. Andrews, about the beginning of the tenth century. He was succeeded
by ten Culdee Bishops, the last of whom was Fodath, who performed the
ceremony of the marriage of Malcolm Canmore and Queen Margaret. The
settlement of the Culdees became broken up and partly secularised, and
under Bishop Robert (1121-59) Canons regular were introduced in 1144,
who gradually absorbed the Culdees into their community.
Dr. Joseph Robertson[143] states it as his opinion that “no one
acquainted with the progress of architecture, who diligently peruses the
_Historia B. Reguli et Fundationis Ecclesiæ S. Andreæ_, will have much
difficulty in identifying the building [of St. Regulus] with the small
‘basilica’ reared by Bishop Robert, an English Canon regular of the
Order of St. Augustine, between the years 1127 and 1144.” Robert, Prior
of Scone, was elected Bishop in the reign of Alexander I., but was not
consecrated till the reign of David I., in 1138. The passage, referred
to by Dr. Robertson is as follows:--
“But before the newly-elected Bishop (Robert, Prior of Scone) was
consecrated, King Alexander, who was now in his last illness, left his
sole surviving brother, King David (who now is), heir both of the
kingdom and of his devotion to the Church and his care of the poor. The
undertakings of his late brother he endeavours to carry to completion.
He has founded many monasteries for monks, canons, and nuns, and on
these he has bestowed many benefactions; while to the servants and
handmaids of Christ themselves he has done many acts of kindness, on
which we cannot here enlarge. He obtained that the Bishop of St.
Andrews, Robert, already mentioned, was consecrated by Thurstan,
Archbishop of York. This being done, Robert returned to his see, and
[Illustration: FIG. 153.--St. Regulus Church. Plan.[144]]
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