St Andrews Cathedral greatly influenced the history of the Medieval church in Scotland from its creation in the 12th century until the Protestant Reformation in 1560. Scotland's largest and most magnificent Medieval church, the cathedral was the seat of Scotland's leading bishops (and from 1472 archbishops). The site it occupies has been used as a place of worship since the 8th century AD, when the relics of St Andrew, Scotland's patron saint, are said to have been brought here. The cathedral buildings are surrounded by a graveyard, and encircled by the most complete and impressive monastic enclosure walls in Scotland. Even in its ruinous state the cathedral remains a striking landmark, the focus of the three Medieval streets of St Andrews, and highly visible from the sea.