Bishop of Brechin

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Sketch of Brechin Cathedral and Round Tower, north-west, drawn by W.R. Billings and engraved by J. Godfrey, in the 1800s. Brechin Cathedral - Billings.jpg
Sketch of Brechin Cathedral and Round Tower, north-west, drawn by W.R. Billings and engraved by J. Godfrey, in the 1800s.
Modern photograph. Brechin, Cathedral and Round Tower.jpg
Modern photograph.

The Bishop of Brechin is a title held successively, since c. 1150: (firstly) by bishops of the Catholic church until the Reformation of 1560; (secondly) by bishops of the Church of Scotland until that church declared itself presbyterian in 1689; and (thirdly) by bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church since then. The seat of the bishops of Brechin until 1689 was Brechin Cathedral which then became the High Kirk of Brechin in the (now presbyterian) Church of Scotland (although still often referred to as Brechin Cathedral). That building ceased to function as a place of worship in November 2021. The current bishop of Brechin leads the Diocese of Brechin in the Scottish Episcopal Church, with its cathedral in Dundee.

Contents

List of known abbots

TenureIncumbentNotes
fl. 1131x1150 Léot of Brechin He was the father of the first bishop. It is very probable that the Gaelic Abbot of Brechin simply became Bishop of Brechin, so that the later bishopric of Brechin was based on the earlier monastic establishment.
fl. late 12th centuryDomnallDomnall nepos Léot, grandson of Abbot Léot, and probably son of Bishop Samson.
fl. early 13th centuryEoin mac in AbaGrandson of Léot's son Máel Ísu. He was the father of Morgánn, Lord of Glenesk.

List of bishops

Pre-Reformation bishops

Bishops of Brechin
FromUntilIncumbentNotes
x 11501165 x 1169 Samson of Brechin Son of Abbot Léot of Brechin
11781189 x 1198 Turpin of Brechin
x 1198-11991212 Radulf of Brechin
1214 x 12151218 Hugh of Brechin Probably from the native clerical family.
12181242 x 1246 Gregory of Brechin
12461269 Albin of Brechin
aft. 1269bef. 1274 William de Crachin Had been the dean of Brechin; the Papal legate, Ottobone, refused to consecrate him. One source says he appealed to the Pope and was consecrated, but authorities such as John Dowden doubt this. At any rate, he died on or before the year 1274.
12751291 x 1297 William de Kilconcath Also William Comyn; Dominican friar.
12961298 Nicholas of Brechin
12981323 x 1327 John de Kininmund
13281349 Adam de Moravia
13501351 Philip Wilde
13511373 x 1383 Patrick de Leuchars
13831404 x 1405 Stephen de Cellario
14071425 x 1426 Walter Forrester
14261453 John de Crannach Had previously been Bishop of Caithness.
14541462x1463 George Shoreswood
14631465 Patrick Graham Translated to St Andrews.
14651488 John Balfour
14881514 x 1516 William Meldrum
15161557 John Hepburn
15571559 Donald Campbell He had been the abbot of Coupar Angus, and was the son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll. He was unable, despite the help of powerful patrons, to secure the bishopric.

Church of Scotland bishops

Bishops of Brechin
FromUntilIncumbentNotes
15651566 John Sinclair
15661607 Alexander Campbell Provided while a minor; resigned 1607.
16071619 Andrew Lamb Translated to Galloway.
16191634 David Lindsay Translated to Edinburgh.
16341635 Thomas Sydserf Translated to Galloway.
16351638 Walter Whitford Deprived on 13 December 1638, along with other Scottish bishops in a general abolition of episcopacy which lasted until 1661.
16381661 Sede vacante Episcopacy suspended.
16621671 David Strachan Episcopacy restored.
16711677 Robert Laurie
16781682 George Haliburton Translated to Aberdeen.
16821684 Robert Douglas Translated to Dunblane.
16841684 Alexander Cairncross Translated to Glasgow.
16841688 James Drummond
The Episcopacy was abolished in the Church of Scotland in 1689, but continued in the Scottish Episcopal Church .

Episcopal bishops

Today the bishop is the Ordinary of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Brechin.

Bishops of Brechin
FromUntilIncumbentNotes
16951709The see administered by Alexander Rose, Bishop of Edinburgh.
17091723The see was part of the territory administered by John Falconer, a college bishop.
17241727 Robert Norrie Died in office.
17271731 Thomas Rattray Translated to Dunkeld in 1731.
17311742 John Ochterlony Died in office.
17421777 James Rait Died in office.
17781781 George Innes Died in office.
17811787See vacant
17871788 Abernethy Drummond Translated to Edinburgh and Glasgow in 1788.
17881810 John Strachan Appointed Coadjutor Bishop in 1787 before succeeded Diocesan bishop in 1788.
18101840 George Gleig Appointed Coadjutor Bishop in 1808 before succeeded Diocesan Bishop in 1810; also Primus 1816–1837.
18401847 David Moir Appointed Coadjutor bishop in 1837 before succeeded Diocesan bishop in 1840, died in office.
18471875 Alexander Forbes Died in office.
18751903 Hugh Jermyn Also Primus 1886–1901; died in office.
19041934 Walter Robberds Also Primus 1908–1934.
19351943 Kenneth Mackenzie Previously vicar of St Mary's Church, Selly Oak.
19441959 Eric Graham
19591975 John Sprott Previously Provost of Dundee.
19751990 Ted Luscombe Also Primus 1985–1990; died May 2022.
19901997 Robert Halliday
19972005 Neville Chamberlain Retired; died October 2018.
20052010 John Mantle Retired due to ill health; died November 2010.
20112017 Nigel Peyton [1] [2] Retirement on 31 July 2017 announced in March 2017. [3]
2018 Andrew Swift Elected 2 June 2018, consecrated 25 August 2018 at St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee. [4]

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References

  1. "New bishop elected for Brechin" . Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  2. Diocese of Brechin – Bulletin Archived 9 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Bishop of Brechin announces his retirement". The Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  4. "New Bishops elected". The Scottish Episcopal Church. Retrieved 7 June 2018.