Bishop of Ross (Scotland)
TheBishop of Rosswas the ecclesiastical head of theDioceseofRoss,one ofScotland's 13 medievalbishoprics.The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness toAdomnán of Iona'sCáin Adomnáin.The bishopric was based at the settlement ofRosemarkieuntil the mid-13th century, afterwards being moved to nearbyFortroseandFortrose Cathedral.As far as the evidence goes, this bishopric was the oldest of all bishoprics north of theForth,and was perhaps the onlyPictishbishopric until the 9th century. Indeed, theCáin Adomnáinindicates that in the reign ofBruide 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 ofFortriu,being just across the water fromMoray.
However, in theHighandLater Middle Ages,the bishopric was only of medium-to-low status in the Scottish church. The Bishopric's links with Rome ceased to exist after theScottish Reformation,but continued, saving temporary abolition between 1638 and 1661, under the episcopalChurch of Scotlanduntil the Revolution of 1688. Episcopacy in the established church in Scotland was permanently abolished in 1689.
List of known bishops and abbots ofRoss maic Bairend
[edit]Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
---|---|---|
fl. 690x710 | Curetán | Later named or conflated with St Boniface. He is listed as one of the witnesses in theCáin Adomnáin,where he is called "Curetan epscop". In theMartyrology of Tallaghthe is called "of Ross Mand Bairend" and in theMartyrology of O'Gormanhe is styled "bishop and abbot of Ross maic Bairend". It is modern histiography that places this location atRosemarkiein theBlack Isle,Ross. |
List of known bishops of Ross
[edit]Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
---|---|---|
fl. 1127 x 1131 | Mac Bethad of Rosemarkie | |
fl. 1147 x 1151-1155 | Symeon of Rosemarkie | |
1161-1195 | Gregoir of Rosemarkie | |
1195-1213 | Reinald Macer | Former monk ofMelrose Abbey. |
1213 x 1214 | Andreas de Moravia | Was elected, but got permission from the Pope to resign. |
1214-1249 | Robert(elder) | |
1249-1271 | Robert(younger) | |
1272-1274 | Matthew | |
1275-1292 x 1295 | Robert de Fyvie | |
1292 x 1295-1295 | Adam de Darlington | After the death of Bishop Robert (III.) de Fyvie, both Adam, precentor of Ross, and Thomas de Dundee were elected to the see. "Master Adam" voyaged to Rome resigned his claim in Thomas' favour; becameBishop of Caithnessin the following year. |
1293 x 1295-1325 | Thomas de Dundee | |
1325-1350 | Roger | Perhaps the same asRoger de Balnebrich,unsuccessfulBishop-electof Dunblane. |
1350-1371 | Alexander Stewart | |
1371-1398 | Alexander de Kylwos | |
1398-1416 x 1418 | Alexander de Waghorn | |
1416 x 1418 | Thomas Lyell | It appears that, although he appears briefly in the sources as "Bishop elect", he never appears to have been consecrated, namely becauseAvignon Pope Benedict XIIIhad reserved the see for his own appointment. |
1418-1422 | Gruffydd Young | Anti-Bishop during schism. Welshman, formerlyBishop of Bangor.Never obtained possession, but retained title until made titular Bishop of Hippo. |
1418-1439 x 1440 | John Bullock | |
1440-1441 | Andrew Munro | Previously,Archdeacon of Ross.He had been postulated by the chapter, but despite great expense and effort,Pope Eugene IVdisallowed the postulation and appointed the bishopric to Thomas de Tulloch. |
1440-1460 x 1461 | Thomas de Tulloch | |
1461-1476 | Henry Cockburn | |
1476-1480x1481 | John Woodman | |
1481-1483 | William Elphinstone | Was provided byPope Sixtus IV,but in 1483 was translated to theBishopric of Aberdeen. |
1483-1488 x 1492 | Thomas Hay | |
1492-1492 x 1494 | John Guthrie | |
1497-1507 | John Fraser | |
1507-1524 | Robert Cockburn | Translated tobishopric of Dunkeldin 1524. |
1523-1538 | James Hay | |
1538-1545 | Robert Cairncross | |
1547-1558 | David Panter | |
1558-1565 | Henry Sinclair | |
1566-1568/73/92 | John Lesley | Most famous bishop of Ross, because of his work as a historian. He was forfeited on 19 August 1568 (though still acting as bishop in 1573) for his catholic and Marian sympathies by the Scottish church, but had his position reaffirmed by the Papacy. He was rehabilitated as Bishop between March 1587 and May 1589. He was translated as theBishop of Coutancesin 1592. Died 31 May 1596. |
1574-1578 | Alexander Hepburn | See above. |
1600-1613 | David Lindsay | |
1613-1633 | Patrick Lindsay | BecameArchbishop of Glasgow. |
1633-1638 | John Maxwell | Episcopacy abolished in December 1638. Maxwell becameBishop of Killala and Achonryin 1641 andArchbishop of Tuamin 1645. |
1662-1679 | John Paterson | First bishop in the "Restoration Episcopate". |
1679-1684 | Alexander Young | PreviouslyBishop of Edinburgh.Died 1684. |
1684-1689 | James Ramsay | PreviouslyBishop of Dunblane.Deprived of his see with the Abolition of Episcopacy in theChurch of Scotland,22 July 1689. |
References
[edit]- Anderson, Alan Orr,Early Sources of Scottish History: AD 500–1286,2 Vols, (Edinburgh, 1922), vol. i
- Dowden, John,The Bishops of Scotland,ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
- Keith, Robert,An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688,(London, 1824)
- Lawrie, Sir Archibald,Early Scottish Charters Prior to A.D. 1153,(Glasgow, 1905)
- Watt, D. E. R.,Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638,2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)