's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named
. 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 Roman Catholic institution after the
, but continued as a royal institution into the 17th century. The diocese was restored (with a different boundary) by
. The current occupant of the see is the Rt. Rev
Dunkeld abbey was an offshoot of Iona, perhaps founded in the early 9th century, in the reign of
, King of the Picts. It is not clear when its abbots got independence from the
, but a notable event is the alleged transfer of the relics Columba to Dunkeld during the reign of the Scoto-Pictish king
. 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.
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
| Tenure |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| fl. x 1114-1131 x |
Cormac of Dunkeld Cormac, Bishop of Dunkeld is the earliest recorded Bishop of Dunkeld in the 12th century, although he was not the first bishop of Dunkeld. It is possible, that he was the first bishop of Dunkeld distinct from the abbot, but there is no evidence for this...
|
|
| fl. 1138-1139 |
John of Atholl John of Atholl was a bishop mentioned only in the Orkneyinga Saga as being sent by King David I of Scotland on a diplomatic mission to Orkney...
|
Not directly called "Bishop of Dunkeld", just a "bishop from Atholl" who went on mission to Orkney. |
| fl. x 1147-1169 |
Gregoir of Dunkeld Gregoir, Bishop of Dunkeld ruled as Bishop of Dunkeld in the middle of the 12th century. He appears in a great number of charters dating to the reigns of David I of Scotland and Máel Coluim IV of Scotland, the earliest of which may date to 1135, although 1146 is the first firm date, when he...
|
|
| 1170-1178 |
Richard of Dunkeld |
|
| 1178 (elect) |
Walter de Bidun 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...
|
Never consecrated. Never took possession of see. |
| 1178-1203 |
John Scotus |
|
| 1203-1210 |
Richard de Prebenda Richard de Prebenda was an early 13th century bishop of Dunkeld. He had previously been a clerk of King William of Scotland and was appointed to the bishopric in 1203. Records indicate a commission of Pope Innocent III attempting to resolve a dispute between Richard and the prior of St Andrews...
|
|
| 1211-1214 |
John de Leicester John de Leicester was an early 13th century bishop of Dunkeld. Before becoming bishop, he had been archdeacon of Lothian. He was elected to the bishopric on 22 July 1211. As bishop-elect, he is present when King William of Scotland paid homage to King John of England in 1212...
|
|
| 1214-1229 x 1230 |
Hugh de Sigillo |
|
| 1229 x 1230 (elect) |
Matthew the Scot Matthew the Scot was a 13th century Scottish cleric. Matthew had been the Chancellor of Scotland in the late reign of king Alexander II of Scotland. He was appointed in 1227 after the death of Thomas, Archdeacon of Lothian...
|
|
| 1229 x 1230-1236 |
Gilbert of Dunkeld Gilbert of Dunkeld was a 13th century bishop of Dunkeld. He began his career in the diocese as a chaplain to Bishop Hugh de Sigillo. When Hugh's successor as bishop, Matthew the Scot, died unexpectedly in 1229, it was Gilbert whom the chapter chose to elect as Matthew's successor. The details of...
|
|
| 1236-1249 |
Geoffrey de Liberatione |
|
| 1250-1272 |
Richard de Inverkeithing Richard de Inverkeithing was a 13th century cleric from Scotland, probably from Inverkeithing in Fife. He was a Chamberlain of King Alexander II of Scotland and bishop of Dunkeld....
|
|
| 1273-1277 x 1282 |
Robert de Stuteville Robert de Stuteville was Bishop-elect of St Andrews and Bishop of Dunkeld. Robert was dean of Dunkeld as early as 1253, when he was elected to the bishopric of St Andrews on 28 June that year. Unfortunately for Robert, his election was opposed by the king, at the time, Alexander III, and by the...
|
|
| 1282 x 1283 |
Hugh de Stirling |
Died at Rome pursuing his election. |
| 1283-1285 x 1288 |
William the Dean William the Dean was a 13th century bishop of Dunkeld. He had been a dean of the diocese of Dunkeld, and was elected to the bishopric when news of the death of bishop-elect Hugo de Strivelin arrived from Rome. William soon travelled to Continental Europe for his consecration, and on the orders of...
|
|
| 1288-1309 |
Matthew de Crambeth Matthew de Crambeth was a late 13th and early 14th century bishop of Dunkeld. He had been a dean of the bishopric of Aberdeen and was a canon of the diocese of Dunkeld when, following the death of Bishop William, he was elected to the bishopric. He was consecrated at the hands of Pope Nicholas IV...
|
|
| 1309-1311 (elect) |
John de Leche John de Leche was a canon of Dunkeld and prelate during the early 14th century. After the death of Matthew de Crambeth, Bishop of Dunkeld, in 1309, William Sinclair was elected by some of the chapter to the bishopric. John de Leche, however, was elected soon afterwards, and had the support of King...
|
Elect; nominee of King Edward II of EnglandEdward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II... ; 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 Maol Choluim de Innerpeffray was a 14th century bishop-elect of Dunkeld. He was a canon from Strathearn. After the death of bishop William Sinclair, the canons of Dunkeld held an election, which was held late in the year 1337 or early 1338. The result was disputed. Maol Choluim's election was...
|
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 Robert de Den was a 14th century bishop-elect of Dunkeld, Scotland. He had been the archdeacon of Dunkeld when, following the death of Bishop Richard de Pilmor, Robert was elected as the new bishop. The election took place on 28 January 1348...
|
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 Donnchadh de Strathearn was a 14th century bishop of Dunkeld. He was probably from the family of the Gaelic Earls of Strathearn, perhaps even the son of Maol Íosa IV, Earl of Strathearn. He was in the company of, as his brother Maol Íosa V was, Edward Balliol when the latter invaded Scotland and...
|
|
| 1355-1369 |
John Luce |
|
| 1370 x 1371 (elect) |
John de Carrick John de Carrick , a native of Carrick, Scotland, was a 14th century Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop-elect of Dunkeld. Although John's exact origins are obscure, he seems to have come from a branch of the old native comital family of Carrick...
|
Probably failed to obtain consecration. |
| 1370-1377 |
Michael de Monymusk Michael de Monymusk was a 14th century bishop of Dunkeld. He held a licentiate in Canon law. He had been dean of the bishopric of Dunblane, dean of the bishopric of Aberdeen, and then dean of the bishopric of Glasgow...
|
to be added |
| 1377 x 1378 |
Andrew Umfray Andrew Umfray was a 14th century bishop-elect of Dunkeld. He had been the precentor of Dunkeld when, following the death of Bishop Michael de Monymusk, Andrew was elected as the new bishop. He travelled to the Apostolic See to receive consecration, and was provided to the see of Dunkeld on 17 June...
|
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 The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St... . |
| 1396-1437 |
Robert de CardenyRobert de Cardeny was a late 14th century and early 15th century Scottish cleric. He was the son of one John Cardeny, and sister of the royal mistress Mariota de Cardeny. His early career is obscure...
|
|
| 1437 x 1440 |
Domhnall MacNeachdainn Domhnall MacNeachdainn was a 15th century Dean and Bishop of Dunkeld. He was the nephew of Robert de Cardeny, Bishop of Dunkeld, by Robert's sister, Mairead . The latter was also the mistress of King Robert II of Scotland. His father was probably a chief of the MacNeachdainn kindred. Domhnall was...
|
He was the Dean of Dunkeld; he died in Continental EuropeContinental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands.... 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 Alexander de Lawedre was for the last five months of his life Bishop of Dunkeld, where he had previously been Archdeacon.-Biography:...
|
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 Thomas Livingston was a fifteenth century Scottish cleric, diplomat, and delegate at the Council of Basel and advisor to Kings James I and James II of Scotland...
|
He was the nomination of the Anti-Pope Felix V; he was probably confirmed by Pope Nicholas VPope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician... , however he never gained possession of the see. He died sometime before July 10, 1460. |
| 1441-1447 |
James Bruce James Bruce was a 15th century cleric who was bishop of Dunkeld, Chancellor of Scotland, and bishop of Glasgow. He was the son of one Robert Bruce, a middling landowner in Clackmannanshire. He was rector of Kilmany , and Archdeacon of Dunkeld...
|
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 John de Ralston was 15th century Scottish bishop and administrator. He was regarded as illegitimate, although today his parents are not known. Ralston appears in the records for the first time in 1426, where he is chaplain and secretary to Lord Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Douglas. He retained...
|
|
| 1452-1475 |
Thomas Lauder Thomas Lauder was a 15th century Scottish churchman. A graduate of the University of Paris, he served the Scottish king at the Council of Basel in the 1430s...
|
Former Master of the hospital at Soutra Aisle Soutra Aisle, just within the Scottish Borders, not far from Fala, is the remains of the House of the Holy Trinity, a church that was part of a complex comprising a hospital and a friary... . |
| 1475-1483 |
James Livingston James Livingston was a 15th century cleric from East Lothian in south-eastern Scotland. Born at an unknown date in the 15th century, he was a son of the Laird of Saltcoats. He chose a career in the church, and became rector of the churches of Forteviot and Weme, and vicar of Innerleithen. By 1474,...
|
Dean of Dunkeld who succeeded Bishop Thomas Lauder. |
| 1483-1485 (elect) |
Alexander Inglis Alexander Inglis was a Scottish cleric and royal clerk. He was the son of one George Inglis and his wife Margeret. At some point in his life he had attended university and obtained a Licentiate in Decrees. In 1477 he became Dean of the diocese of Dunkeld, and in 1480 became Archdeacon of St Andrews...
|
Was elected but failed to ensure confirmation by the Pope. |
| 1483-1515 |
George Brown George Brown was a late 15th century and early 16th century Scottish churchman. He first appears on record in 1478 as the rector of the church of Tyningham, and is called a clerk of the diocese of Brechin...
|
|
| 1515-1516 (elect) |
Andrew Stewart |
Brother of the Earl of Atholl The Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from... . The Pope refused his nomination to the Bishopric, but did appoint him to the Bishopric of CaithnessThe Bishop of Caithness was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Caithness, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first referenced bishop of Caithness was Aindréas, a Gael who appears in sources between 1146 and 1151 as bishop. Aindréas spent much if not all of his career outside his... at DornochDornoch is a town and seaside resort, and former Royal burgh in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, near to where it opens into the Moray Firth to the east... . |
| 1515-1522 |
Gavin DouglasGavin Douglas was a Scottish bishop, makar and translator. Although he had an important political career, it is for his poetry that he is now chiefly remembered. His principal pioneering achievement was the Eneados, a full and faithful vernacular translation of the Aeneid of Virgil and the first...
|
Forfeited December 1521, and fled to England. |
| 1524-1526 |
Robert Cockburn Robert Cockburn was a 16th century Scottish diplomat and cleric. Cockburn was a university graduate, and appears for the first time in 1501 when he was presented to James IV of Scotland for the position of parson of Dunbar, being styled "Master Robert Cockburn, dean of Rouen"...
|
Previously Bishop of RossThe 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... . |
| 1526-1544 |
George Crichton George Crichton served as the Bishop of Dunkeld until his death on 24 January in 1543 or 1544.He served as Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland from 1526....
|
|
| 1544-1549 |
John Hamilton |
Previously Abbot of Paisley The Abbot of Paisley was the head of the Cluniac monastic community of Paisley Abbey and its property. The monastery was founded as a priory at Renfrew in 1163, but moved to Paisley in 1169. It became an abbey in 1219. The founder was Walter fitz Alan, Seneschal of Scotland... . Got promoted to the Archbishopric of St AndrewsThe Bishop of St. Andrews was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews and then, as Archbishop of St Andrews , the Archdiocese of St Andrews.The name St Andrews is not the town or church's original name... . |
| 1549-1553 x 1554 |
Donald Campbell 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...
|
|
| 1543/1554-1571 |
Robert Crichton -Biography:He was the son of Sir Patrick Crichton, Laird of Cranstoun. Robert was a younger son and chose an ecclesiastical career. From 1517 he was Provost of St Giles Collegiate Church...
|
Claimed to have been coadjutor to Bishop George Crichton since 1543. |
in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. The diocese covers an area of 9,505 km². The
. The post
on 4 March 1878. The Right Reverend