Bishop of Dunkeld

Last updated

The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunkeld, one of the largest and more important of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th-century cleric named Cormac. However, the first known abbot dates to the 10th century, and it is often assumed that in Scotland in the period before the 12th century, the roles of both bishop and abbot were one and the same. The Bishopric of Dunkeld ceased to exist as a Catholic institution after the Scottish Reformation but continued as a royal institution into the 17th century. The diocese was restored (with a different boundary) by Pope Leo XIII on 4 March 1878; it is now based in the city of Dundee.

Contents

List of known abbots

Dunkeld Abbey was an offshoot of Iona, perhaps founded in the early 9th century, in the reign of Caustantín mac Fergusa, King of the Picts. It is not clear when its abbots got independence from the Abbots of Iona, but a notable event is the alleged transfer of the relics of Columba to Dunkeld during the reign of the Scoto-Pictish king Cináed mac Ailpín. Its abbots, like many Gaelic abbots of the period, took a strong role in secular affairs, hence the term "lay abbot". The following is a list of known abbots of Dunkeld; the list is not exhaustive.

TenureIncumbentNotes
d. 865 Túathal of Dunkeld The Annals of Ulster , s.a. 865.6, records his obit and writes "Tuathal m. Artgusso prim-epscop Fortrenn & abbas Duin Caillenn", that is, "Túathal son of Artgus, chief bishop of Fortriu and Abbot of Dunkeld [dies]".
d. 873 Flaithbertach of Dunkeld The Annals of Ulster, s.a. 873.8, records his obit and writes "Flaithbertach m. Muirchertaigh, princeps Duin Chaillden, obiit", that is, "Flaithbertach son of Muirchertach, superior of Dún Caillen, died".
d. 965 Dúnchad of Dunkeld Dúnchad was killed along with Dubdon, Mormaer of Atholl in the battle of dorsum Crup, fought between king Dub and king Cuilén.
d. 1045 Crínán of Dunkeld Progenitor of the Dunkeld Dynasty, who ruled Scotland for more than two centuries.
fl. 1097 Ethelred of Scotland Son of king Máel Coluim III.

While it is true that medieval churchmen took an active part in secular affairs (some fought in battles), that didn't make them in any sense "lay." They were still consecrated bishops or abbots. A "lay abbot" was the secular lord of the abbey's lands. Since an abbey's property was often extensive, it was lucrative plum. Medieval monarchs enjoyed considerable authority over the church, and doubtless, these positions were awarded to royal favorites.

List of known pre-Reformation bishops

The Bishopric of Dunkeld was one of the largest in medieval Scotland. However, in 1200, half of its territory was used to create the new Bishopric of Argyll.

Tenure (an "x" between two years indicates a range of possible starting or ending dates)IncumbentNotes
fl. x 1114-1131 x Cormac of Dunkeld
fl. 1138-1139 John of Atholl Not directly called "Bishop of Dunkeld", just a "bishop from Atholl" who went on mission to Orkney.
fl. x 1147-1169 Gregoir of Dunkeld
1170-1178 Richard of Dunkeld
1178 (elect) Walter de Bidun Never consecrated. Never took possession of see.
1178-1203 John Scotus
1203-1210 Richard de Prebenda
1211-1214 John de Leicester
1214-1229 x 1230 Hugh de Sigillo
1229 x 1230 (elect) Matthew the Scot
1229 x 1230-1236 Gilbert of Dunkeld
1236-1249 Geoffrey de Liberatione
1250-1272 Richard de Inverkeithing
1273-1277 x 1282 Robert de Stuteville
1282 x 1283 Hugh de Stirling Died at Rome pursuing his election.
1283-1285 x 1288 William the Dean
1288-1309 Matthew de Crambeth
1309-1311 (elect) John de Leche Elect; nominee of King Edward II of England; his election was disputed, and he never actually took possession of his see.
1309-1337 William Sinclair
1337 x 1338-1338 x 1342 (elect) Maol Choluim de Innerpeffray A canon from Strathearn; his election was challenged by Richard de Pilmore; conflict was resolved at the Papal court, where the Pope found in Richard's favour.
1337 x 1338-1345 x 1347 Richard de Pilmuir
1347 x 1348 (elect) Robert de Den He was the Archdeacon of Dunkeld, and was elected to the see; however, the Pope was already in the process of appointing a bishop to the vacant see.
1347-1354 Donnchadh de Strathearn
1355-1369 John Luce
1370 x 1371 (elect) John de Carrick Probably failed to obtain consecration.
1370-1377 Michael de Monymusk
1377 x 1378 Andrew Umfray Had been dean of Dunkeld and precentor; he died at the Papal court.
1378-1390 John de Peebles
1391-1395 x 1398 Robert Sinclair Translated from Bishopric of Orkney.
1396-1437 Robert de Cardeny
1437 x 1440 Domhnall MacNeachdainn He was the Dean of Dunkeld; he died in Continental Europe on his way to be consecrated by the Pope.
1437-1440 James Kennedy Translated to the Bishopric of St. Andrews in April 1440.
1440 (elect) Alexander Lauder He was nominated to the see in May 1440, confirmed the following month, but died in October that year before his consecration.
1440-1460 (titular) Thomas Livingston He was the nomination of the Anti-Pope Felix V; he was probably confirmed by Pope Nicholas V, however he never gained possession of the see. He died sometime before 10 July 1460.
1441-1447 James Bruce Appointed Bishop of Glasgow in 1447, but died the same year.
1447 (elect) William Turnbull Was elected in March 1447 after the death of Bishop James Bruce; however, he obtained the Bishopric of Glasgow in November that year before being consecrated to Dunkeld.
1447-1451 x 1452 John de Ralston
1452-1475 Thomas Lauder Former Master of the hospital at Soutra Aisle.
1475-1483 James Livingston Dean of Dunkeld who succeeded Bishop Thomas Lauder.
1483-1485 (elect) Alexander Inglis Was elected but failed to ensure confirmation by the Pope.
1483-1515 George Brown
1515-1516 (elect) Andrew Stewart Brother of the Earl of Atholl. The Pope refused his nomination to the Bishopric, but did appoint him to the Bishopric of Caithness at Dornoch.
1515-1522 Gavin Douglas Forfeited December 1521, and fled to England.
1524-1526 Robert Cockburn Previously Bishop of Ross.
1526-1544 George Crichton
1544-1549 John Hamilton Previously Abbot of Paisley. Got promoted to the Archbishopric of St Andrews.
1549-1553 x 1554 Donald Campbell
1543/1554-1571 Robert Crichton Claimed to have been coadjutor to Bishop George Crichton since 1543.

List of Schism anti-bishops

TenureIncumbentNotes
cons. 1379Robert de DerlingAnti-Bishop of the Western Schism. Consecrated by Peter, Bishop of Citta Nuova, in October 1379 on order of Pope Urban VI, in opposition to John de Peblys, supporter of the Avignon Pope. Never took possession of see.
bp. 1379Nicholas DuffieldEnglish abbot (of Pershore); was the nomination of the Pope against the candidate of the Avignon Pope during the Western Schism. Never took possession of see.

List of post-Reformation bishops

Church of Scotland succession

In 1560 the Church of Scotland broke its ties with Rome.

TenureIncumbentNotes
1571-x 1584 James Paton
1584–1585 Robert Crichton
1585–1607 Peter Rollock
1607 James Nicolson
1607–1638 Alexander Lindsay
1638–1662 Episcopacy briefly abolished
1662–1665 George Haliburton
1665–1676 Henry Guthrie
1677–1679 William Lindsay
1679–1686 Andrew Bruce
1686–1689 John Hamilton Deprived of the temporalities in 1689 when episcopacy was permanently abolished in the Church of Scotland following the Glorious Revolution.
Sources: [1]

Scottish Episcopal Church succession

TenureIncumbentNotes
1689–1690 John Hamilton Formerly Church of Scotland bishop, continued as an Episcopalian until his death in 1690
1690–1731 See vacant
1731–1743 Thomas Rattray Consecrated a college bishop in 1727; also Primus 1738-43; died 22 August 1768
1743–1776 John Alexander Also administered the See of Dunblane 1743–1774; died in office.
1776–1786 Charles Rose Also Bishop of Dunblane 1774–1791; died in office.
1786–1792 See vacant
1792–1808 Jonathan Watson
1808–1837 Patrick Torry Consecrated as Bishop of Dunkeld and Dunblane; became Bishop of Fife, Dunkeld and Dunblane in 1837, and subsequently Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane in 1844.
The Scottish Episcopal see became part of the Diocese of Fife, Dunkeld and Dunblane in 1837, which was renamed the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane in 1844.
Sources: [1]

Roman Catholic succession

The Bishop of Dunkeld is the Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Dunkeld in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. The diocese covers an area of 9,505 km². The see is in the City of Dundee where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew. The post Reformation diocese was restored by Pope Leo XIII on 4 March 1878. The Right Reverend Stephen Robson is the 9th bishop of the diocese since its restoration.

(Any dates appearing in italics indicate de facto continuation of office. The start date of tenure below is the date of appointment or succession. Where known, the date of installation and ordination as bishop are listed in the notes together with the post held prior to appointment.)

TenureIncumbentNotes
22 March 1878 to 18 January 1887 George Rigg Priest; ordained 26 May 1878; died in office
14 August 1890 to 30 August 1900 James Smith Priest; ordained 28 October 1890; appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh
21 February 1901 to 24 September 1912 Angus MacFarlane Priest; ordained 1 May 1901; died in office
14 May 1913 to 28 March 1914 Robert Fraser Priest; ordained 25 May 1913; Died in office
8 September 1914 to 31 May 1949 John Toner Priest; ordained 15 October 1914; died in office
31 May 1949 to 23 May 1955 James Scanlan Coadjutor Bishop of Dunkeld; appointed Bishop of Motherwell
27 May 1955 to 26 January 1981 William Hart Priest; ordained 21 September 1955; retired
26 January 1981 to 30 June 2012 Vincent Logan Priest; ordained 26 February 1981; retired
9 January 2014 to 28 December 2022 Stephen Robson Auxiliary Bishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh
Sources: [2]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Historical successions: Dunkeld". Crockford's Clerical Directory. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  2. "Diocese of Dunkeld". Catholic-Hierarchy.org . David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 June 2012.

Related Research Articles

Óengus mac Fergusa was king of the Picts from 820 until 834. In Scottish historiography, he is associated with the veneration of Saint Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. Although, this has not been proven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Causantín mac Fergusa</span> King of the Picts 789–820

Causantín or Constantín mac Fergusa was king of the Picts, in modern Scotland, from 789 until 820. He was until the Victorian era sometimes counted as Constantine I of Scotland; the title is now generally given to Causantín mac Cináeda. He is credited with having founded the church at Dunkeld which later received relics of St Columba from Iona.

The Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th-century cleric named Nechtan. It appears that the episcopal seat had previously been at Mortlach (Mòrthlach), but was moved to Aberdeen during the reign of King David I of Scotland. The names of three bishops of Mortlach are known, the latter two of whom, "Donercius" and "Cormauch" (Cormac), by name only. The Bishop of Aberdeen broke communion with the Roman Catholic Church after the Scottish Reformation. Following the Revolution of 1688, the office was abolished in the Church of Scotland, but continued in the Scottish Episcopal Church. A Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen was recreated in 1878.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbot of Iona</span>

The Abbot of Iona was the head of Iona Abbey during the Middle Ages and the leader of the monastic community of Iona, as well as the overlord of scores of monasteries in both Scotland and Ireland, including Durrow, Kells and, until the Synod of Whitby, Lindisfarne. It was one of the most prestigious clerical positions in Dark Age Europe, and was visited by kings and bishops of the Picts, Franks and English. The Ionan abbots also had the status of Comarba of Colum Cille, i.e. the successors of that Saint, Columba.

Christianity in Medieval Scotland includes all aspects of Christianity in the modern borders of Scotland in the Middle Ages. Christianity was probably introduced to what is now Lowland Scotland by Roman soldiers stationed in the north of the province of Britannia. After the collapse of Roman authority in the fifth century, Christianity is presumed to have survived among the British enclaves in the south of what is now Scotland, but retreated as the pagan Anglo-Saxons advanced. Scotland was largely converted by Irish missions associated with figures such as St Columba, from the fifth to the seventh centuries. These missions founded monastic institutions and collegiate churches that served large areas. Scholars have identified a distinctive form of Celtic Christianity, in which abbots were more significant than bishops, attitudes to clerical celibacy were more relaxed and there were significant differences in practice with Roman Christianity, particularly the form of tonsure and the method of calculating Easter, although most of these issues had been resolved by the mid-seventh century. After the reconversion of Scandinavian Scotland in the tenth century, Christianity under papal authority was the dominant religion of the kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archbishop of St Andrews</span> Office in the Episcopal Church of Scotland

The Bishop of St. Andrews was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews in the Catholic Church and then, from 14 August 1472, as Archbishop of St Andrews, the Archdiocese of St Andrews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diocese of Dunkeld</span> Historical diocese of Scotland (c. 9th century-1689)

The Diocese of Dunkeld was one of the 13 historical dioceses of Scotland preceding the abolition of Episcopacy in 1689.

Gregoir, Bishop of Dunkeld, served as Bishop of Dunkeld in the middle of the 12th century. Before being raised to the bishopric by King David I of Scotland, he was the abbot of Dunkeld. King David entrusted certain lands to Gregory, who was to hold them until there were canons on the island of St. Colme's Inch, a charge accomplished before 1169. The lands so entrusted included the island itself, “Kincarnathar”, and Donibristle. Gregory appears in a great number of charters dating to the reigns of David I and Máel Coluim IV of Scotland, the earliest of which may date to 1135, although 1146 is the first firm date, when he appears alongside Bishop Andreas of Caithness in the Gaelic notitiae on the Book of Deer. He is not the last Gaelic bishop of the diocese, but his death marks the end of dominance of the bishopric by principally Gaelic-speaking bishops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishop of Brechin</span>

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 Church of Scotland. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishop of Ross (Scotland)</span>

The Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Ross, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona's Cáin Adomnáin. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie until the mid-13th century, afterwards being moved to nearby Fortrose and Fortrose Cathedral. As far as the evidence goes, this bishopric was the oldest of all bishoprics north of the Forth, and was perhaps the only Pictish bishopric until the 9th century. Indeed, the Cáin Adomnáin indicates that in the reign of Bruide mac Der Ilei, king of the Picts, the bishop of Rosemarkie was the only significant figure in Pictland other than the king. The bishopric is located conveniently close to the heartland of Fortriu, being just across the water from Moray.

The Bishop of Moray or Bishop of Elgin was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Moray in northern Scotland, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. If the foundation charter of the monastery at Scone is reliable, then the Bishopric of Moray was in existence as early as the reign of King Alexander I of Scotland (1107–1124), but was certainly in existence by 1127, when one Gregoir ("Gregorius") is mentioned as "Bishop of Moray" in a charter of king David I of Scotland. The bishopric had its seat at Elgin and Elgin Cathedral, but was severally at Birnie, Kinneddar and as late as Bishop Andreas de Moravia at Spynie, where the bishops continued to maintain a palace. The Bishopric's links with Rome ceased to exist after the Scottish Reformation, but continued, saving temporary abolition between 1638 and 1661, under the episcopal Church of Scotland until the Revolution of 1688. Episcopacy in the established church in Scotland was permanently abolished in 1689. The Bishops fortified seat for over 500 years was at Spynie Palace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishop of Dunblane</span>

The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane or Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scotland. The bishopric itself certainly derives from an older Gaelic Christian community. According to legend, the Christian community of Dunblane was derived from the mission of St. Bláán, a saint originally associated with the monastery of Cenn Garath (Kingarth) on the Isle of Bute. Although the bishopric had its origins in the 1150s or before, the cathedral was not built nor was the seat (cathedra) of the diocese fixed at Dunblane until the episcopate of Clement.

Cellach I is traditionally said to have been the first Bishop of the Scots, the bishopric later based at St. Andrews. He is mentioned in the historical writings of Walter Bower and Andrew of Wyntoun as a bishop of St. Andrews, but no pre-15th century sources say anything more than merely "Bishop". Wyntoun and Bower make him bishop as early as the reign of King Giric of Scotland (877x878-885x889). He was still bishop in the reign of King Causantín II of Scotland in 906 when, "in his sixth year King Causantín and Bishop Cellach met at the hill of belief near the royal city of Scone and pledged themselves that the laws and disciplines of the faith, and the laws of churches and gospels, should be kept in conformity with the customs of the Gaels". One interpretation of this passage is the demise of the "Pictish church" to the reforming Gaels, however it is certain that by the 15th century the bishop-list of the principal Scottish see was looking back at Cellach as its first bishop. His death date is unknown, but unsurprisingly he was certainly dead by the 960s when his successor Fothad I died as bishop.

Walter de Bidun was a clerk of King William of Scotland, Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop-elect of Dunkeld. Walter was a witness to a charter that granted the mainland properties of Iona Abbey, then under the rule of the Lord of the Isles, to the Monks of Holyrood Abbey. He was elected to the bishopric of Dunkeld in 1178 after the death of the previous bishop, Richard. However, Walter did not live long enough to receive consecration, and in fact he too met his death in the year 1178.

Clement was a 13th-century Dominican friar who was the first member of the Dominican Order in Britain and Ireland to become a bishop. In 1233, he was selected to lead the ailing diocese of Dunblane in Scotland, and faced a struggle to bring the bishopric of Dunblane to financial viability. This involved many negotiations with the powerful religious institutions and secular authorities which had acquired control of the revenue that would normally have been the entitlement of Clement's bishopric. The negotiations proved difficult, forcing Clement to visit the papal court in Rome. While not achieving all of his aims, Clement succeeded in saving the bishopric from relocation to Inchaffray Abbey. He also regained enough revenue to begin work on the new Dunblane Cathedral.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David I and the Scottish Church</span>

Historical treatment of David I and the Scottish church usually emphasises King David I of Scotland's pioneering role as the instrument of diocesan reorganisation and Norman penetration, beginning with the bishopric of Glasgow while David was Prince of the Cumbrians, and continuing further north after David acceded to the throne of Scotland. As well as this and his monastic patronage, focus too is usually given to his role as the defender of the Scottish church's independence from claims of overlordship by the Archbishop of York and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Donald Campbell was a 16th-century Scottish noble and churchman. He was the son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox. From 1522, he was a student of St Salvator's College, at the University of St Andrews. After graduation, he became a cleric in his home diocese, the diocese of Argyll.

Robert Crichton was a 16th-century Scottish Catholic cleric.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Catholic Diocese of Dunkeld</span> Roman Catholic diocese in Scotland

The Diocese of Dunkeld is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in southern Scotland. On 28 December 2022, the Diocese became sede vacante following the resignation of Bishop Stephen Robson due to ill health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archdiocese of St Andrews</span> Episcopal jurisdiction in early modern and medieval Scotland

The Archdiocese of St Andrews was a territorial episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in early modern and medieval Scotland. It was the largest, most populous and wealthiest diocese of the medieval Scottish Catholic church, with territory in eastern Scotland stretching from Berwickshire and the Anglo-Scottish border to Aberdeenshire.

References