James Chisholm
Encyclopedia
James Chisholm Bishop of Dunblane
, was the eldest son of Edmund Chisholm, the first Chisholm to own the estate of Cromlix in Dunblane
parish
, Strathearn
, having moved from the Scottish Borders
. In his early years as a clergyman, he was a chaplain
to King James III of Scotland
; the king apparently sent him to Rome
for some time.
In 1482, after the resignation of Richard Forbes, James Chisholm became Dean
of Aberdeen. From 1482 too, James was claiming to have received papal provision as Dean of Moray
, an office he never seems to have gained possession of. He was still claiming the title when he was provided as Bishop of Dunblane on 31 January 1487. Chisholm was consecrated at an unknown date that fell between 11 July 1487 and 28 January 1488.
Chisholm's long episcopate saw, among other things, the disastrous Battle of Flodden, a growth in the resources available to the cathedral, the addition of nine new chaplainries to the choir, and the addition of parapets to the tower and choir of the cathedral. In 1526, James partially gave up the bishopric for his half-brother William Chisholm
; on 6 June 1526, Pope Clement VII
provided William to the bishopric. James however retained the fruits of the see - possession and control of its resources - with a right to return if he chose; he bore the style "administrator of Dunblane" for sometime after, possibly until his death, though such a style is attested only once, on 26 March 1534).
That was James' last appearance in contemporary sources. James Chisholm's death cannot be dated with certainly, but it is likely that he died in the year 1546; he was certainly dead by 20 January 1546.
Bishop of Dunblane
The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane/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...
, was the eldest son of Edmund Chisholm, the first Chisholm to own the estate of Cromlix in Dunblane
Dunblane
Dunblane is a small cathedral city and former burgh north of Stirling in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral and the Allan Water runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High...
parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
, Strathearn
Strathearn
Strathearn or Strath Earn is the strath of the River Earn, in Scotland. It extends from Loch Earn in Perth and Kinross to the River Tay....
, having moved from the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
. In his early years as a clergyman, he was a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to King James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
; the king apparently sent him to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for some time.
In 1482, after the resignation of Richard Forbes, James Chisholm became Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Aberdeen. From 1482 too, James was claiming to have received papal provision as Dean of Moray
Dean of Moray
The Dean of Moray was the head of the cathedral chapter of the diocese of Moray, north-central Scotland, based at Elgin Cathedral. The diocese of Moray is first known to have had a dean from a document dating between 1207 and 1208, and its first dean known by name from a document dating between...
, an office he never seems to have gained possession of. He was still claiming the title when he was provided as Bishop of Dunblane on 31 January 1487. Chisholm was consecrated at an unknown date that fell between 11 July 1487 and 28 January 1488.
Chisholm's long episcopate saw, among other things, the disastrous Battle of Flodden, a growth in the resources available to the cathedral, the addition of nine new chaplainries to the choir, and the addition of parapets to the tower and choir of the cathedral. In 1526, James partially gave up the bishopric for his half-brother William Chisholm
William Chisholm (d. 1564)
William Chisholm , bishop of Dunblane, was the second son of Edmund Chisholm of Cromlix, near Dunblane, a son of Chisholm of that ilk in Roxburghshire, and half-brother of James Chisholm, who was bishop of Dunblane from 1486 to 1527, when he resigned his see, with the consent of Pope Clement VII...
; on 6 June 1526, Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
provided William to the bishopric. James however retained the fruits of the see - possession and control of its resources - with a right to return if he chose; he bore the style "administrator of Dunblane" for sometime after, possibly until his death, though such a style is attested only once, on 26 March 1534).
That was James' last appearance in contemporary sources. James Chisholm's death cannot be dated with certainly, but it is likely that he died in the year 1546; he was certainly dead by 20 January 1546.