The space of authority: liturgy and music at St Andrews in 12th-13th centuries

Abstract

This dissertation re-examines the making of liturgical identity at St Andrews between c.1100 and c.1300. It argues that the cathedral was not a passive recipient of English or Continental practices but a site of “liturgical authorship”, where imported forms were selectively adapted and given a distinctively Scottish voice. Drawing on manuscripts, charters, and architecture, the study shows how monarchy, Augustinians, and Céli Dé together shaped a hybrid liturgical culture that expressed both continuity and reform.The first chapter situates St Andrews within the politics of Scottish kingship. It shows how royal patronage—through the promotion of St Andrew’s cult, diocesan organisation, and episcopal appointments—used the Church to consolidate authority and assert independence from York and Canterbury. Chapter 2 reassesses the Céli Dé, challenging narratives of decline. It demonstrates that they survived as secular canons, retained episcopal support, and contributed actively to liturgical practice, often in negotiation and tension with the Augustinians. Chapter 3 turns to architecture, reading St Rule’s, St Mary on the Rock, and the cathedral as ritual spaces designed to stage Sarum-based liturgy while accommodating local devotions. Chapter 4 analyses Pn12036 and W1, especially Fascicle XI, arguing that Sarum entered Scotland early through Augustinian networks and was then re-voiced locally by the Céli Dé and cathedral clergy. Fascicle XI emerges as a purpose-built Marian cycle that reveals institutional authorship through its functional, restrained adaptation of Parisian techniques.Taken together, the chapters show how monarchy provided the framework, the Augustinians the transmission networks, and the Céli Dé the continuity of local tradition. Their interplay produced a distinctive liturgical identity at St Andrews that was both orthodox and innovative. By integrating historical, architectural, and musical evidence, the dissertation demonstrates how conflict between communities fostered integration and creativity, establishing St Andrews as a key centre in the development of liturgical practice and polyphonic music in medieval Scotland.

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ORCID for Yanchen Zhao: orcid.org/0000-0003-4477-0958

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