St Andrews University founder Bishop Henry Wardlaw can now be seen proudly standing near the site of the first college building.
A new statue of the bishop in St Mary’s Quadrangle was officially unveiled by university chancellor Sir Menzies Campbell on Saturday.
It was modelled on the surviving remains of Bishop Wardlaw’s effigy, held in St Andrews Cathedral Museum, and was commissioned as part of the ancient seat of learning’s 600th anniversary.
The head of the effigy was found hidden in the cathedral’s perimeter wall, its torso having been used as a window lintel on South Street and its accompanying plaque having been discovered as a South Street paving stone in the 19th century.
Strathmartine Trust raised funds for the project after honorary reader in history Dr Barbara Crawford came up with the idea. Donations were received from friends, alumni and town residents.
On February 27 1412, Wardlaw granted a charter of incorporation to the scholars and students based at St Andrews Cathedral. 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 1413, which arrived in St Andrews in February 1414 to be greeted by lavish celebrations.
Wardlaw was also credited with building the bridge over the Eden at Guardbridge.
He has been resurrected by sculptor David Annand, whose previous works include a sculpture commemorating the Declaration of Arbroath and the Kelty Miner.