The Bishop of the Isles or Bishop of Sodor was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of the Isles (or Sodor), one of Scotland's thirteen medieval bishoprics. The bishopric, encompassing both the Hebrides and Mann, probably traces its origins as an ecclesiastical unity to the careers of Olaf, King of the Isles, and Bishop Wimund. Previously, there had been numerous bishoprics and recorded bishoprics include Kingarth, Iona, Skye and Mann. There were very likely numerous others.
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| d. 623 | Fergno Britt mac Faílbi | Was one of the companions of Saint Columba. He was the 4th abbot of Iona, and is also styled "bishop". |
| fl. x697–712 | Coeddi | The Annals of Ulster , s.a.[ clarification needed ] 712.1, records his death and styles him Coeddi episcopus Iae (i.e. "Coeddi, Bishop of Iona"). |
| d. 713 | Dorbbéne | Dunchad appears to have been Abbot of Iona during Dorbbéne's time in charge. Either the abbacy was divided or Dorbbéne was bishop while Dunchad was abbot. |
| fl. mid. 9th century | Patrick | Testified as bishop "i Suðreyjam" (in the Hebrides) in Norse sources, was perhaps merely a legendary figure. |
| d. 963 | Fothad | According to the Annals of the Four Masters , s.a. 961.3 (=s.a. 963), he was Fothadh, mac Brain, scribhnidh ⁊ espucc Insi Alban; that is, "Fothad, son of Bran, scribe and bishop of the islands of Scotland". We know from other sources that he was probably bishop of Cennrígmonaid (i.e. St. Andrews), or at least "High Bishop of Scotland" without a specific see. |
| d. 966 | Finguine | The Annals of the Four Masters record his death in 966 (=s.a. M964.3) as "anchorite and Bishop of Iona". |
Kingarth was a church on the Isle of Bute, supposedly founded by Saint Chattan and Saint Blane. Three abbots are known, but only two bishops. Sadly, little is known about the abbey, bishopric and individual clerics.
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| d. 660 | Daniél | The Annals of Ulster , s.a. 660.1, records the death of this "and Daniél, bishop of Cenn Garad". |
| d. 689 | Iolán | The Annals of Ulster, s.a. 689.1, record the death of this Iolán, "bishop of Cenn Garad". |
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| x1079 | Roolwer | |
| x1079 | William | |
| fl. 1079x1095 | Hamond | |
| el. 1103x1108 | Anonymous | An unnamed bishop is presented for consecration to Gerard, the Archbishop of York. He may or may not have been Wimund. |
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1134–x 1148 | Wimund | Described as bishop of sancta ecclesia de Schith "holy church of Skye" (1109 x 1114). His bishopric may have been confined to Skye until 1134 x 1138, when he was definitely bishop of the Isles and Mann. |
| x 1148–x 1152 | Nicholas (I.) | Presented by Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles to the Dean of York for consecration; no positive evidence that he took office. |
| 1151 x 1152–1152 x 1154 | John(I.) | Not known to have possessed his see. He was probably a candidate of the Archbishop of York who proved unacceptable to Óláfr. |
| 1154–1154 x 1166 | Gamaliel | |
| 1154 x 1166–1170 | Reginald(I.) | A Norwegian; called, variously, Reinarb, Reinar, Nemar and Nemarr. |
| 1166–1170 x 1194 | Christian | It is possible that this is the same as Christian, Bishop of Whithorn. |
| x 1194–1203 | Michael | |
| 1203 x 1210–1217 | Nicholas (II.) | Also called Koli, a Scandinavian shortening of Nicholas. |
| 1217 x 1226 | Reginald (II.) | A relation of the royal family of the Isles. May not have had the support of Furness Abbey, who at that point held the right to elect the Bishop of the Isles. |
| 1217 x 1219–1224 x 1225 | Nicholas de Meaux | Was Abbot of Furness. |
| 1224 x 1226–1226 | John(II.), son of Hefar | Died in an accident soon after becoming bishop. |
| 1226–1248 | Simon | |
| 1248 | Laurence | Laurence had been the archdeacon of Mann, and was elected to the bishopric after the death of Bishop Simon. He presented himself to the King of Norway and the Archbishop of Trondheim; the king would not agree to the election until he had visited personally; however, Laurence and his party drowned near Shetland on the voyage back to Mann. |
| 1253–1275 | Richard [de Natherton?] | An Englishman who was a canon of St Andrews Cathedral Priory in Scotland. Surname "de Natherton" is hypothetical, but supported by evidence. |
| el. 1275 | Gilbert | An Englishman. Previously Abbot of Rushen, he was apparently elected to the see after the death of Bishop Richard. However, Alexander III, King of Scotland ignored the election and installed instead Mark. |
| 1275–1303 | Mark | Latin : Marcus. A native of Galloway. Blind at his death in 1303. |
| 1303 x 1305–1322 | Alan | Scottish Gaelic : Ailean. Died in office. |
| 1324–1326 x 1327 | Gilbert Maclellan | Scottish Gaelic : Giolla-Brighde Mac Giolla-Faoláin. A native of Galloway. Died in office. |
| 1327 x 1328–1328 x 1331 | Bernard of Kilwinning | |
| 1331 | Cormac Cormacii | Scottish Gaelic : Cormac Mac Chormaic. Elected by canons of Skye, but does not appear to have obtained confirmation. |
| 1331–1348 | Thomas de Rossy | |
| 1349–1374 | William Russell | |
| 1374–1387/1392 | John Dongan | Deprived of bishopric in 1387 by Scottish-backed Avignon Pope Clement VII. Continued in English-controlled Mann until 1392, but from 1387 onwards the diocese has permanently split into two parts. |
The bishopric of the Isles became divided, primarily because the see became divided between the kings of England and Scotland. The English had taken over Mann, leaving the other islands to the north under Scottish overlordship.
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1387–1409 | Michael | Translated from Cashel by Antipope Clement VII, upon deprivation of Dongan. |
| 1410–c.1421 | Richard Payl | Translated from Dromore by Antipope John XXIII. Recognised bishop of the Isles until c.1421 and bishop of Mann until c.1429/33. |
| prov. 1422 | Michael Ochiltree | Received papal provision, but was aborted. |
| 1426–1437 x 1441 | Angus(I.) | Scottish Gaelic : Aonghas. Son of Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles. |
| 1441–1467 x 1472 | John Hectoris MacGilleon | Scottish Gaelic : Eóin Mac Gill-Eathain. |
| 1472–1479 x 1480 | Angus(II.) | Scottish Gaelic : Aonghas, son of Angus Macdonald, Bishop of the Isles in 1426. |
| 1487–1490 | John Campbell(I.) | Scottish Gaelic : Eóin Caimbeul. |
| 1510–1513 | George Hepburn | |
| 1514–1532 | John Campbell(II.) | Scottish Gaelic : Eóin Caimbeul. Received papal provision but never paid for it, so had still not been confirmed when he resigned his right to Fearchar Mac Eachainn in 1528 and in 1532. |
| nom. 1529 | James Stewart | The Abbot of Dryburgh, nominated unsuccessfully by the crown. |
| 1528–1544 x 1546 | Ferchar MacEachan | Scottish Gaelic : Fearchar Mac Eachainn, also recorded as Fearchar/Ferquhard "MacCachane" and "Hecotris". |
| 1544–1552 x 1553 | Roderick MacLean | Scottish Gaelic : Ruaidhri Mac Gill-Eathain. |
| 1545–1546 | Roderick MacAllister | Scottish Gaelic : Ruaidhri Mac Alasdair. Candidate of Domhnall Dubh. |
| 1547 | John Hay | Names occurs as "postulate of Sodor" in English source dating 1547. Nothing else known. |
| 1547–1552 | Patrick Maclean | Scottish Gaelic : Padraig Mac Gill-Eain. |
| 1554–1559 | Alexander Gordon | Nominal Archbishop of Athens. |
| 1557–1560 x 1562 | John Campbell(III.) | Scottish Gaelic : Eóin Caimbeul. |
| nom. 1564 x 1565 | Patrick Maclean (again) | Scottish Gaelic : Padraig Mac Gill-Eathain. Transferred his nomination to Séon Carsuel in exchange for pension. |
| 1565–1572 | Séon Carsuel | Anglicised: John Carswell. |
| 1567 | Lachlan Maclean | Scottish Gaelic : Lachlann Mac Gill-Eathain. Obtained provision in secret from Mary, Queen of Scots. Transferred his rights to Carswell. |
| 1572–1592 x 1594 | John Campbell(III.) (again) | Scottish Gaelic : Eóin Caimbeul. |
| 1605–1618 x 1619 | Andrew Knox | Translated to Raphoe in 1610, but retained The Isles until 1618/19. |
| 1619–1627 x 1628 | Thomas Knox | |
| 1628–1633 | John Leslie | Translated to Raphoe. |
| 1634–1638 | Neil Campbell | Scottish Gaelic : Niall Caimbeul. |
| 1638–1662 | Episcopacy temporally abolished. | |
| 1662–1669 | Robert Wallace | Died in office. |
| 1674–1676 | James Ramsay | Translated from Dunblane on 28 July 1674. Translated back to Dunblane in April 1676. |
| 1677–1680 | Andrew Wood | Translated to Caithness in 1680. |
| 1680–1689 | Archibald Graham | |
| In 1689, the Episcopacy was abolished in the Church of Scotland. | ||
Ferchar mac Connaid was king of Dál Riata from about 642 until 650.
Ciniod, Cináed or Cinadhon, son of Uuredech, was king of the Picts from 763 until 775.
Gartnait, son of Domelch, was a king of the Picts from 584 to 595.
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.
Alan Orr Anderson (1879–1958) was a Scottish historian and compiler. The son of Rev. John Anderson and Ann Masson, he was born in 1879. He was educated at Royal High School, Edinburgh, and the University of Edinburgh.
Fothad II was the bishop of St Andrews (1059–1093) for most of the reign of King Máel Coluim III mac Donnchada. Alternative spellings include Fodhoch, Fothach and Foderoch, and Fothawch. A "Modach filius Malmykel" is mentioned in a grant, dated 1093, as the bishop of S. Andrews. As this bishop is certainly Fothad II, his father was a man named Máel Míchéil.
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.
Fothad I is the second alleged Bishop of the Scots (906x955). We know he had the status of "bishop" during the reign of King Dub mac Maíl Coluim because the Chronicle of the Kings of Alba has his death in the period of his reign (962-967). Such a date is supported by the Irish annals, and according to the Annals of the Four Masters, he died in 963. According to the latter source, he was Fothadh, mac Brain, scribhnidh & espucc Insi Alban; that is, "Fothad, son of Bran, scribe and bishop of the islands of Scotland". This entry taken on its own obviously places some doubt on his status as a bishop of St Andrews. It is only because he is mentioned as a bishop of St. Andrews in the bishop-lists of Walter Bower and Andrew of Wyntoun that he is identified with this see; however no pre-15th century sources actually confirm this, although it is true that there was definitely a bishop of this name in the 11th century. Bower, however, gives some explanation, telling us that Fothad "was driven out by King Indolff; and after his expulsion from the see he lived for 8 years". This Indolff, or King Idulb mac Causantín reigned between 954 and 962. If we take both Bower's statement and the obit reported in the Annals of the Four Masters to be correct, this means that Fothad was expelled in 955. Although it is unlikely anyway, he could not have been bishop before the year 906, when we know his predecessor Cellach was still bishop. That he died in 963 as "espucc Insi Alban" allows the possibility that he transferred his see to Iona or elsewhere on the western coast of Scotland after 955, although this is just conjecture.
Máel Ísu I is the third alleged Bishop of Cennrígmonaid, equivalent to latter day St Andrews. He is mentioned in the bishop-lists of the 15th-century historians Walter Bower (Malisius) and Andrew of Wyntoun (Malice) as the successor of Fothad I, and it is claimed that he reigned as bishop for eight years. If Máel Ísu's predecessor did get expelled from the bishopric in 955,, and if Máel Ísu's reign really was eight years, then Máel Ísu would have held the bishopric between the years 955 and 963.
Cellach II is the fourth alleged Bishop of the Scots, the predecessor of the later St Andrews bishopric.
Máel Dúin is the eighth alleged Bishop of St Andrews. He is mentioned in the bishop-lists of the 15th-century historians Walter Bower and Andrew of Wyntoun as the successor of Bishop Ailín.
Jocelin was a twelfth-century Cistercian monk and cleric who became the fourth Abbot of Melrose before becoming Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland. He was probably born in the 1130s, and in his teenage years became a monk of Melrose Abbey. He rose in the service of Abbot Waltheof, and by the time of the short abbacy of Waltheof's successor Abbot William, Jocelin had become prior. Then in 1170 Jocelin himself became abbot, a position he held for four years. Jocelin was responsible for promoting the cult of the emerging Saint Waltheof, and in this had the support of Enguerrand, Bishop of Glasgow.
Enguerrand was a twelfth-century bishop of Glasgow. He had previously been Archdeacon of Teviotdale, and had served king Máel Coluim IV as Chancellor of Scotland between 1161 and 1164. He was elected Bishop of Glasgow on Sunday, 20 September 1164, and consecrated on 28 October at the hands of Pope Alexander III himself in Sens, France, where the Pope was then resident. He did not return to the diocese until 2 June 1165. Although he resigned the position of Royal Chancellor upon election to the bishopric, there is charter evidence that he once again became Chancellor in the reign of King William the Lion, probably in the year 1171. Notable actions of his episcopate included, probably on the request of his friend Jocelin, then Abbot of Melrose, the opening of the tomb of the emerging saint Walthoef. He died on 2 February 1174.
Marjorie Ogilvie Anderson was a Scottish historian and paleographer.
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.
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.
Laurence de Ergadia was a thirteenth-century Scottish bishop. Probably from the MacDougall kindred of Argyll, Laurence had become a Dominican friar and presumably university graduate before being elected Bishop of Argyll, an election which took place sometime between 1262 and 1264. Although the election was quashed by the Pope in 1264, the Pope gave him a fresh provision to the bishopric. Laurence appears intermittently in the records during his three and a half decade episcopate, but his activities in his own diocese are badly recorded. He died as Bishop of Argyll sometime in either 1299 or 1300.
The Diocese of the Isles, also known as the Diocese of Suðreyar, or the Diocese of Sodor, was one of the dioceses of medieval Norway. After the mid-13th-century Treaty of Perth, the diocese was accounted as one of the 13 dioceses of Scotland. The original seat of the bishopric appears to have been at Peel, on St Patrick's Isle, where indeed it continued to be under English overlordship; the Bishopric of the Isles as it was after the split was relocated to the north, firstly to Snizort and then Iona.
John Dongan [Donegan, Donnegan, Donkan, Duncan] was a medieval Manx prelate. After holding the position of Archdeacon of Down, he held three successive bishoprics, Man and the Isles (Sodor), then the see of Derry and lastly, Down.
Senior churchmen of Medieval Scotland (post-1100)  | |
|---|---|
| Archbishops | |
| Bishops | |
| Archdeacons | |
| Abbots | |
| Priors | |