St Andrews. Cathedral and St Regulus Tower from the south east.

Description St Andrews. Cathedral and St Regulus Tower from the south east.

Date c. 1890

Collection Papers of Erskine Beveridge, antiquarian, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

Catalogue Number F 2045

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 740702

Scope and Content St Regulus' Church, St Andrews Cathedral, Fife, from the south-east St Regulus' Church, a 12th-century shrine-church whose tower dominates the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, was built to house the relics of St Andrew and act as a landmark for pilgrims. This photograph of the chancel and tower, the only parts of the building to survive, was taken c.1890 by the Scottish photographer, Erskine Beveridge. The shrine is a small roofless chancel, almost square, with round-headed windows and a great arch inserted in the east wall. The landmark is an immensely tall west tower, built of local grey ashlar, rising 33m and barely interrupted by the string-courses defining its three stages. The top stage is a short belfry, with two-light openings and a 17th-century corbelled parapet. St Regulus was 4th-century Greek monk who, according to legend, journeyed from Patras to Scotland with the relics of St Andrew to prevent them from being taken to Constantinople, then the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, by the Roman Emperor, Constantine. The relics remained in the church for 160 years before being reburied behind the high altar of St Andrews Cathedral. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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