History of the University of St Andrews
The history of the
Foundation
The
In 1512 Prior John Hepburn and Archbishop
At its foundation in 1538 St Mary's was intended to be a College for instruction in Divinity, Law, and Medicine, as well as in Arts, but its career on this extensive scale was short-lived. Under a new foundation and erection, confirmed by Parliament in 1579, it was set apart for the study of Theology only, and it has remained a Divinity College ever since.[1]
Development
During the 17th to 19th centuries, the university underwent many changes. The distinctive red gowns which are still in use today were adopted in 1672 and towards the end of the seventeenth century a move to Perth was considered and eventually rejected. In 1747 St Salvator's and St Leonard's were merged to form the United College of St Salvator and St Leonard. During the nineteenth century student numbers were very low and the university having to close was a very real possibility. In the 1870s there were fewer than 150 students, and perhaps partly in response to this the university was, in 1897, strengthened by the foundation of University College in Dundee which became a centre of medical and scientific excellence.
In 1876, the University Senate decided to allow women to receive an education at St Andrews at a level roughly equivalent to the
University of Dundee
The affiliation of Dundee ended in 1967 when the college, which had been renamed Queen's College, became a separate and independent institution as the
Alongside the loss of the main body of the medical school, the independence of Queen's College also resulted in a number of other 'prestige subjects', such as Law and Dentistry, no longer being taught at the University.
University Library
The University library, which now includes the older college libraries, was founded in 1612 at the institution of King
It was situated in a purpose-built building on the site of the old Pedagogy, later remodelled in 1764, and improved in 1829 and 1889 - 1890. The lower hall in the older part of the building was used for University meetings, examinations and academical ceremonials, and at times as a provincial meeting-place for the Scots Parliament. When the constitution of the colleges was remodelled in 1579 St Mary's was set apart for theology; and in 1747 the colleges of St Salvator and St Leonard were formed into the United College. The co-educational St Leonards School now occupies the buildings of the former St Leonard's College.Modern Period
The University retains ownership of the tiny St Leonards college chapel, and candle-lit services take place weekly during term-time. The United College occupies the site of St Salvator's College, but the old buildings have been removed, with the exception of the college chapel, now used as the university chapel, a fine Gothic structure, containing an elaborate tomb of Bishop Kennedy and John Knox's pulpit; the entrance gateway, with a square clock tower (152 feet high); and the janitor's house with some classrooms above.
Since 2006 the university have allowed equal rights to The St Andrews Pagan Society, but under some strict rules.[8]
In 2009 Louise Richardson was installed as principal and vice-chancellor of the University. Not only was she the first woman to hold that position, but she is an Irish-American Catholic. She stated "I don’t believe that talent resides predominantly among males, or among the upper classes". Dr Sally Mapstone succeeded her as principal and vice-chancellor on Richardson's appointment to the University of Oxford. [9]
References
- ^ Scott, Hew (1928). Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation. Vol. 7. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. pp. 417-418. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Ladies Literate in Arts". Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Universities (Scotland) Act 1889". Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Who was the first female graduate of the University of St Andrews?". Archived from the original on 10 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ "Literate Ladies - A fifty year experiment" (PDF). Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ^ A note on the early history of St Andrews University Library, by R.V. Pringle
- ^ St Andrews University Library, Sources for Library History, 1 : A revised transcript of the 'Foundation List' of 1612-13, by R.V. Pringle
- ^ "Pagans get equal rights at St Andrews". scotsman.com. The Scotsman. 17 June 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^ "In Scotland, New Leadership Crumbles Old Barrier" article by Raymond Bonner in The New York Times March. 27, 2009
Further reading
- Reid, Norman (2022). Ever to Excel: An Illustrated History of the University of St Andrews. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1-4744-7193-0.