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Papal Mace for St Andrews

Archbishop Presents New Mace to Scotland’s Oldest University Amidst 600th Anniversary

Above: The 600th Anniversary Mace.

Below: The University’s three medieval maces:
St Salvator’s College, 1461; Faculty of Canon Law, circa 1450; Faculty of Arts, 1416.

ST ANDREWS University already boasts the world’s finest collection of medieval maces, but a new ceremonial mace was added to the university’s hoard recently. In honour of the University’s six-hundredth anniversary, the Most Rev Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh, has presented the institution with a new ceremonial mace on behalf of the Catholic Church.

“This completes a triple recognition of the University St Andrews,” said Dr John Haldane, the University’s professor of philosophy.

“During his visit to Scotland at the outset of this decade, Pope Benedict referred to the university beginning to mark the 600th anniversary of its foundation, then last year Pope Francis sent a message of congratulation, and now his office has granted permission for the inclusion of his coat of arms on the head of a mace commissioned to mark the completion of several centuries and the beginning of who knows how many more.”

The silver mace with gold rose details was crafted by Hamilton & Inches of Edinburgh, who also constructed the mace of the Faculty of Medicine at St Andrews over a half-century ago. Their master silversmith Jon Hunt designed the mace, in consultation with Prof Haldane.

The mace’s head is reminiscent of Brunelleschi’s dome of Florence Cathedral, recalling St Andrews’s links with the Continent which were foremost in the University’s first century and a half while it was a Catholic institution. Atop the head a saltire design is incorporated, referencing the apostle who gave his name to both the Royal Burgh and the University as well as the country who’s first university St Andrews is.

Heraldic shields display the arms of the University and of Pope Francis who invoked “upon all the staff and students of the University, past and present, the abundant blessings of Almighty God, as a pledge of heavenly peace and joy”.

The Rev Dr Donald MacEwan, University Chaplain; the Rev Fr Michael John Galbraith, Catholic Chaplain; Prof Louise Richardson, University Principal; the Most Rev Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh; Prof John Haldane, St Andrews University; Rt Rev Mons Brian Canon Halloran, Catholic Chaplain Emeritus.

The Archbishop, Prof Haldane, Fr Galbraith, and undergraduate students in their red gowns process up the Scores to St Salvator’s Chapel on their way from the Catholic chaplaincy.

Aided by the Head Janitor & Bedellus, Archbishop Leo Cushley presents the new mace to Prof Louise Richardson, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of St Andrews University, in the medieval chapel of St Salvator.

“St Andrews is unique among British universities in its collection of mediaeval maces and here today those of the Faculty of Arts and that of Canon Law stand alongside Kennedy’s College mace,” Prof Haldane continued in his graduation address. “But now they are joined by another: the Sixth Century Mace.”

“Like the ancient ones, this is an expression of Catholic patronage of education. More specifically it is a gift of the Scottish Catholic Church to the University and it was presented to the Principal yesterday by the present day Catholic Archbishop of St Andrews (and Edinburgh) Leo Cushley in a service in St Salvator’s Chapel.”

“Its design is simpler and its treasure more modest than the mediaeval maces but that is apt,” Professor Haldane concluded, “not only to our age but to that fact that it comes bearing the arms of Pope Francis who is far from the mediaeval grandeur of sovereign popes and prince cardinals.”

Published at 9:30 pm on Thursday 4 December 2014. Categories: Church Maces St Andrews Tags: , .
Comments

A classic Cusack submission – very nice to see you in activity!

— Evan Caledon Ashworth 22 Dec 2014 7:18 am

Beautiful. The modern mace may have a simpler design, but it still is quite impressive. I like it’s hefty size.

— Valeria Kondratiev 8 Jan 2015 8:38 pm

Somewhere my homie is missing his aftermarket exhaust…

Pray let it be used to bar the door securing the University’s better maces.

— The Grinch 13 Jan 2015 8:48 pm
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