Ninian Spot
Encyclopedia
Ninian Spot [de Spot] was a royal clerk and prelate in the 15th century Kingdom of Scotland
. He spent much of his youth at university, eventually obtaining Master's Degree
.
He can be found as Comptroller
of the Rolls (compotorum rotulator) in 1456, 1457 and in 1459; in such a role his name occurs frequently in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, which also mentions that he was a canon
of Dunkeld Cathedral
. This is certain, as he is found in the Bargany Papers as Treasurer
of the diocese of Dunkeld
on 24 September 1454. The prebend was presumably the church of Menmure, which was taken by John Balfour
, later Bishop of Brechin
, after Ninian became Bishop of Galloway
in 1458/9. Before becoming Bishop of Galloway (or Whithorn
), he had also held the parish church
of Nelbland, probably Newlands
in the diocese of Glasgow, which is mentioned in papal documents because it became vacant upon Spot's accession to the bishopric.
He was provided to the bishopric of Galloway on 15 December 1458, after the second and successful translation of the former bishop Thomas Spens to the bishopric of Aberdeen; the first translation of Spens had been unsuccessful, and so his first replacement, Thomas Vaus
, did not take up the bishopric. It is not clear why Spot rather than Vaus became bishop on the second occasion. Spot was consecrated sometime between 12 March and 16 April 1459, and was granted the temporalities of the see
on 27 April.
As Bishop of Whithorn, Ninian attended the parliaments of 1459, 1462, 1467, 1476 and that of 1 June 1478. He continued his work as a government clerk, appearing as a witness to charters under the Great Seal until 1476, his last appearance dating to 22 July 1476; his last appearance as auditor of the exchequer
was on 12 June 1480. This is Bishop Ninian's last appearance in any records, and because he is not known to be dead until 9 December 1482, he must have died at some point between these two dates. It was during Ninian's episcopate that Pope Sixtus IV
created the Archbishopric of St Andrews, under which Galloway became a suffragan. Although no bishop of Galloway had sworn allegiance to an Archbishop of York
since the episcopate of Michael MacKenlagh
(1355-1358 × 1359), and although since then the see had been directly under Roman authority, this act made the break with York final.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
. He spent much of his youth at university, eventually obtaining Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
.
He can be found as Comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
of the Rolls (compotorum rotulator) in 1456, 1457 and in 1459; in such a role his name occurs frequently in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, which also mentions that he was a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Dunkeld Cathedral
Dunkeld Cathedral
Dunkeld Cathedral stands on the north bank of the River Tay in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Built in square-stone style of predominantly grey sandstone, the cathedral proper was begun in 1260 and completed in 1501...
. This is certain, as he is found in the Bargany Papers as Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of the diocese of Dunkeld
Diocese of Dunkeld
The Diocese of Dunkeld was one of the 13 historical dioceses of Scotland preceding the abolition of Episcopacy in 1689.-History:It is thought that the diocese was constituted as far back as the middle of the ninth century. The first occupant was styled Bishop of Fortriu, the name by which the...
on 24 September 1454. The prebend was presumably the church of Menmure, which was taken by John Balfour
John Balfour (bishop)
John Balfour was a 15th-century Scottish prelate. He was vicar of Linlithgow and rector of Conveth, before being provided as bishop of Brechin on 29 November 1465...
, later Bishop of Brechin
Bishop of Brechin
The Bishop of Brechin is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Brechin or Angus, based at Brechin Cathedral, Brechin. The diocese had a long-established Gaelic monastic community which survived into the 13th century. The clerical establishment may very well have traced their earlier origins...
, after Ninian became Bishop of Galloway
Bishop of Galloway
The Bishop of Galloway, also called the Bishop of Whithorn, was the eccesiastical head of the Diocese of Galloway, said to have been founded by Saint Ninian in the mid-5th century. The subsequent Anglo-Saxon bishopric was founded in the late 7th century or early 8th century, and the first known...
in 1458/9. Before becoming Bishop of Galloway (or Whithorn
Whithorn
Whithorn is a former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, about ten miles south of Wigtown. The town was the location of the first recorded Christian church in Scotland, Candida Casa : the 'White [or 'Shining'] House', built by Saint Ninian about 397.-Eighth and twelfth centuries:A...
), he had also held the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of Nelbland, probably Newlands
Newlands, Glasgow
Newlands is an upmarket district in the Southside of the Scottish city of Glasgow.The area is mainly residential in character. House prices in the area are consistently above the national average, with the average house price for 2006 being around £185 000....
in the diocese of Glasgow, which is mentioned in papal documents because it became vacant upon Spot's accession to the bishopric.
He was provided to the bishopric of Galloway on 15 December 1458, after the second and successful translation of the former bishop Thomas Spens to the bishopric of Aberdeen; the first translation of Spens had been unsuccessful, and so his first replacement, Thomas Vaus
Thomas Vaus
Thomas Vaus [de Vaus, Vause] was a 15th century Scottish royal official and cleric. He was a graduate of the University of Paris, being admitted there as a Bachelor ad eundem in 1445, graduating as a Licentiate in 1447. At some stage he completed an M.A., and bore the title of "Master". His...
, did not take up the bishopric. It is not clear why Spot rather than Vaus became bishop on the second occasion. Spot was consecrated sometime between 12 March and 16 April 1459, and was granted the temporalities of the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
on 27 April.
As Bishop of Whithorn, Ninian attended the parliaments of 1459, 1462, 1467, 1476 and that of 1 June 1478. He continued his work as a government clerk, appearing as a witness to charters under the Great Seal until 1476, his last appearance dating to 22 July 1476; his last appearance as auditor of the exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
was on 12 June 1480. This is Bishop Ninian's last appearance in any records, and because he is not known to be dead until 9 December 1482, he must have died at some point between these two dates. It was during Ninian's episcopate that Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV , born Francesco della Rovere, was Pope from 1471 to 1484. His accomplishments as Pope included the establishment of the Sistine Chapel; the group of artists that he brought together introduced the Early Renaissance into Rome with the first masterpiece of the city's new artistic age,...
created the Archbishopric of St Andrews, under which Galloway became a suffragan. Although no bishop of Galloway had sworn allegiance to an Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
since the episcopate of Michael MacKenlagh
Michael MacKenlagh
Michael MacKenlagh was Bishop of Galloway or Whithorn . He had previously been Prior of Whithorn, head of the cathedral's monastery and leader of the local religious elite...
(1355-1358 × 1359), and although since then the see had been directly under Roman authority, this act made the break with York final.