St Mary's College of the University of St Andrews, in Fife, Scotland - in full, the New College of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - was founded in 1538 by Archbishop James Beaton, uncle of Cardinal David Beaton on the site of the pedagogy or St Johns College (founded 1418).
St Mary's College was intended to preserve the teachings of the Roman Catholic church against the "heretical" teachings of the reformers. It was dedicated to a revival of learning on the Continental trilingual model and from the outset laid emphasis on the knowledge of Latin, Greek and Hebrew. In 1579, nineteen years after the Reformation brought fundamental changes to the religious life of the Scottish nation, St Mary's College was reconstituted as the Faculty of Divinity of the University.
In that role the college has continued ever since, marked by an illustrious succession of scholars and teachers, and, in modern times especially, by a stream of alumni who have distinguished themselves and served Church and community in every part of the world. At present the Faculty and School of Divinity forms an academic community of some 131 persons: 16 members of staff; 55 postgraduate students; and 60 undergraduates.
St Mary's College retains much of its original sixteenth century buildings, specifically the north and West ranges. The Quad contains a thorn tree said to have been planted by Mary, Queen of Scots, during her many visits to St.Andrews. The Quad also contains the historic King James Library founded by King James VI & I in 1612.
The College is one of five approved centres for the training of Church of Scotland ministers. Graduates include the Very Rev Dr Finlay Macdonald, the current Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and a former Moderator.
