Chapel Service for the Commemoration of St Leonard

Each November St Leonard’s Postgraduate College and the University Chaplaincy warmly invite all postgraduate students to a service of commemoration for the feast day of St Leonard.

About St Leonard and St Leonard’s Chapel

‌St Leonard was a Frankish noble who converted to Christianity in 496AD. He is venerated as the patron saint of prisoners and captives. Places and towns across Europe are named after St Leonard, including St Leonard’s Postgraduate College – the heart of the postgraduate community of St Andrews.

St Leonard’s College was founded in 1512 by Archbishop Alexander Stewart and Prior John Hepburn. It was intended for the education of novices of the Augustinian Order and was administered by the Priory. Students were educated in arts and theology, under the academic supervision of the University. The College disassociated itself from the Priory in 1545.

In 1579, the Colleges of St Leonard and St Salvator were reconstituted as colleges of arts and philosophy, while teaching at St Mary’s College (founded 1538) focused on theology. Declining student numbers and the poverty of the University led to the union of the two Arts colleges in 1747, as the United College of St Salvator and St Leonard. The United College was housed on the site of St Salvator’s College and in 1772 the buildings and gardens of St Leonard’s College were sold off, with the exception of the college chapel, which remains a part of the University.

‌Parts of the building now known as St Leonard’s Chapel pre-date the foundation of the college. As the Hospital of St Leonard, belonging to the Augustinian Canons of the Cathedral Priory, it provided shelter to pilgrims visiting the shrine of St Andrew. The dedication is appropriate, for in the middle ages St Leonard was regarded as the protector of travellers sheltering in inns and hospices.

The earliest parts of the building, the nave and the western half of the choir, may date from 1144 when the Augustinians acquired and probably rebuild an earlier Culdee hospital. After the creation of the United College, the congregation of St Leonard’s was transferred to St Salvator’s Chapel. Though St Leonard’s Chapel remained the property of the University, it was allowed to decay.

In 1910 the University replaced the roof and reglazed the windows of St Leonard’s Chapel. From 1948 extensive renovations initiated by Sir David Russell, the Chancellor’s Assessor, began under the architect Ian G Lindsay, with a grant from the Pilgrim Trust.

The building was re-dedicated on St Leonard’s Day, 6 November 1952, in the first service to be held there for nearly 200 years.

St Leonard’s Chapel remains a part of the University to this day. The annual service commemoration not only marks the feast day of St Leonard but also serves as an opportunity to remember the history of St Leonard’s College, and celebrate postgraduate study.

You can read more about the history of St Leonard’s Chapel and the history of St Leonard’s College.

Attend the Service

This year’s service will take place on Sunday 3 November 2024 at 6pm in St Leonard’s Chapel. All postgraduate students are welcome to attend the service, followed by a reception at Old Burgh School.

Worship in St Andrews

Postgraduates are welcome to attend the regular services and prayer meetings in the University’s two chapels – St Leonard’s Chapel and St Salvator’s Chapel.

Learn more about worship in St Andrews and other University Chaplaincy events.