The Strathmartine Trust

Clay model of Wardlaw's bust by sculptor David Annand.

On 27 February 1412 Bishop Henry Wardlaw granted a charter of incorporation to a group of scholars and students based in his Cathedral of St. Andrews.This was the Foundation Charter of the first Scottish University, ratified by Pope Benedict XIII. Bishop Henry’s charter is incorporated in the papal bull of 28 August 1413.

Appeal for Funds

This remarkable achievement deserves to be commemorated by a statue of the Founder. The Trustees of the Strathmartine Trust and patrons of the Appeal are planning to commission a bronze statue to be sculpted by David Annand. They aim to raise £60,000 to cover the cost of the statue, plinth and plaque with inscription. This will be located in the University at a site to be decided, but probably in the grounds of St. Mary’s College, near where the first college buildings (St John’s College) and Wardlaw’s pedagogy are known to have existed.

Henry Wardlaw, Bishop of St. Andrews (1404-1440)

Wardlaw’s coat-of-arms on the Arts Faculty mace

Bishop Henry Wardlaw was one of the foremost holders of the office of Bishop of St. Andrews in the whole of the Middle Ages, and he held the office for nearly 40 years. He was intimately connected with the royal family, having the young Prince James entrusted to his care and tuition, and becoming a trusted adviser to the king when he inherited the throne. As senior bishop Wardlaw crowned the king and queen at Scone on 21 May 1424 and enjoyed the friendship and confidence of the sovereign, being employed by him in important affairs of state.

At this time of papal Schism, when Scotland followed the Avignon popes, it would have been difficult for Scottish students to study in England which adhered to the Roman papacy, and this must have been an important factor in Wardlaw’s decision to found a seat of learning in his Episcopal city. His greatest achievement was the founding of the first Scottish University on the model of that of Paris. He made his own grant of privileges to the incipient University -virtually a Charter of Foundation- on 27 February 1411, and was sponsor (along with the captive King James, the prior of St. Andrews and the Archdeacon) of the petition to Pope Benedict XIII for the papal acts of confirmation and foundation issued on 28 Aug. 1413.

In the Cathedral Museum at St Andrews there are, remarkably, surviving remains of Bishop Wardlaw’s effigy. These will form the basis for modeling the  bishop’s statue.

Episcopal head with mitre	St. Mary’s College, where Wardlaw’s original foundation was located	Fragment of the torso with chasuble and the Wardlaw coat-of-arms

 

Cheques should be made out to: The Strathmartine Trust Wardlaw Statue Appeal and sent to:
The Director, The Strathmartine Centre,  2, Kinburn Place,  St. Andrews KY16 9DT

	Payment details and Donation Form

For other arrangements please contact the Director at the above address (tel. 01334 478644)