Today in Reformation History

The 29th of February was the anniversary of Scotland’s first Reformation martyr, 24 year old Patrick Hamilton who was burnt at the stake outside St Salvator’s in St Andrews in the year 1528.

Today, the 1st March, is the anniversary of another of Scotland’s great reformers, George Wishart. He had a huge impact on John Knox and was burnt at the stake outside St Andrews castle on the 1st March 1546.

Wishart and other reformers had been held in the rather grim “Bottle Dungeon” in St Andrews Castle before their deaths.

It’s a hole over 20ft deep cut into solid rock just below the sea tower. It has a narrow neck and slightly wider bottom, hence the name “bottle” dungeon.

Once simply dropped into the dungeon, conditions would have been horrific for those held within its pitch dark confines. Escape was virtually impossible.

John Knox describes the bottle dungeon as “a place where many of God’s children had been imprisoned.”

Cardinal Beaton’s body (the man who had Wishart burnt at the stake) was stored in salt in the bottle dungeon after his death at the hands of the Protestants who took control of the castle following Wishart’s death. It was stored in order to preserve it and return it to the family.