Religion & Ethics

So you fancy rebuilding a cathedral? Or do you? OK, let's deal with that one first. Why restore a ruin? The ruin, in this particular case, being those fragmentary remains which still cast a long shadow over the cathedral city of St Andrews in Fife. Founded in 1160 by Bishop Arnold. Consecrated in 1318 in the presence of King Robert the Bruce. The largest church ever built in Scotland. The apex of national life. A magnet for pilgrims from across the continent. Fatally wounded in 1559 in the wake of an inflammatory sermon preached by John Knox, an alumnus of the city's university. And since then? Well, over 400 years of decay and gentle decline. So should the story of St Andrews Cathedral end there? Cue step one of an easy guide to restoration.

Step One: the case for rebuilding

"St Andrews Cathedral is my favourite building-in-waiting," says Richard Demarco. The renowned Edinburgh artist has long harboured dreams of resurrecting the cathedral. "I really do believe it's a disgrace to think it's in a state of ruins. I don't think any other country in the world would accept that." Such is his passion that he launched a campaign ten years ago to promote his vision for restoring it to its original purpose – a Catholic cathedral.

Ambitious as it sounds, such a project wouldn't be the first restoration of a historically significant Scottish church in recent times. The 19th century saw the rebuilding of Dunblane Cathedral whilst the 20th century saw both Paisley and Iona Abbeys restored.

What's more, St Andrews Cathedral itself has already been largely rebuilt twice in its history. Once in the 13th century following storm damage, a project that spanned six years. Then, again, a century later after a great fire. That work took over sixty years. Time for a third rebuild? If you think the answer is "yes", then read on.

Step Two: a grand competition

Joe Logan is a well known Glasgow architect and developer. He's also no stranger to the process of returning historic churches to their former glory. Over a decade ago he launched an architectural competition which proved to be the catalyst in restoring St Mungo's Church in the city's Townhead area back to its original 19th century, neo-gothic, splendour.

"Competitions are all about hope. Yes, there's the hope of getting the job but a lot of firms also do them to raise their profile," says Joe. As for a plan to rebuild the Cathedral at St Andrews? He believes a competition would be a realistic and, indeed, “perfectly normal” way to proceed. "If architects think there are good judges presiding, they'll want to be judged by them. That's competitions. They're as simple as that.”

Step Three: get the plan approved

“An interesting idea.” That's how the First Minister describes the notion of rebuilding St Andrews Cathedral. It's a ruin he knows very well indeed. After all, Alex Salmond spent four years as a history student at the city's university in the 1970s. Now, three decades on, it would ultimately be up to his government to give the go-ahead to any restoration. “The Cathedral played a hugely important role in Scotland's spiritual and temporal life,” says Mr Salmond. “I'm not aware of any plans to rebuild it, although it's certainly an interesting idea.”

Step Four: build a cathedral

Over a hot chocolate and an empire biscuit in the BBC canteen, Peter Drummond sketches out what must surely be one of the first drafts for a rebuilt St Andrews Cathedral since its 16th-century demise. Peter worked for many years as an architect with Historic Scotland. He's now out on his own and is happily rebuilding ruined tower houses and castles all across the country.

“There's no reason per se why building a new cathedral around what used to be there would be deemed as having a damaging impact other than, arguably, where the building is considered to be a romantic ruin.” That lure of the “romantic ruin” is, in his opinion, a thoroughly English notion which too often infects the heritage debate in Scotland. “If you produced a world-class building, I mean a real world-class building, that finds a way to bridge over the archaeology and incorporates the old bits of building...well, what’s wrong with that?”

So, do we have enough skilled workers in Scotland to do the job? “Absolutely.” Timescale? “Realistically, you're looking at...oh, two years on site.” And finally, crucially, the cost? “Well, significantly less than a parliament!”

Step Five: the rededication

So there you go. You now have your cathedral. What’s more, a glorious national shrine now awaits those souls setting out on the, newly approved, pilgrim way from Iona to St Andrews.

As Richard Demarco observes, “Iona has been restored. So why not St Andrews? Especially given plans for this 'pilgrim way' linking the two. A pilgrimage from a rebuilt structure to a ruin? Roofless and open to the sky? That cannot be tolerated.”