St Rule's Church
St Rule's Church
The small building now known as St Rule's Church was once St Andrews' main cathedral. It was probably built in the early twelfth century, perhaps by workmen from northern England. The church is in the Romanesque (or Norman) style that was then popular across much of Europe. Its high tower is visible for many miles, and may have been designed to guide seafarers to St Andrews. In the late twelfth century St Rule's was superseded by the much larger cathedral whose ruins it stands beside. Nevertheless, the old church remained important to the canons of St Andrews Cathedral, and an image of St Rule's was used on the cathedral canons' seal for official documents until after the Reformation.
Street View
Additional Information
Location: To the south-east of the Cathedral. Date Built: Early twelfth century (some later alterations).
In the mid-twelfth century St Rule's Church seems to have been extended westwards beyond the tower. Evidence for this extension is still visible on the tower.
The roofline of St Rule's was altered a number of times during the Middle Ages. Marks from the different roofs are still visible on the east side of the tower.
Medieval images of St Rule's show that the tower once had a short pointed spire.
St Rule's Church underwent alterations during the early sixteenth century. It is thought that the stone staircase in the upper sections of the tower dates from this time.
St Rule's is named after St Rule or St Regulus who supposedly brought St Andrew's bones from Greece to Scotland.