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Sketch of Brechin Cathedral and Round Tower, north-west, drawn by W.R. Billings and engraved by J. Godfrey, in the
1800s.
The Bishop of Brechin was the ecclesiastical head of the medieval 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 from Abernethy. During the Scottish Reformation, the Presbyterian Church of Scotland gained control of the heritage and jurisdiction of the bishopric. However, the line of bishops has continued to this day in the Scottish Episcopal Church. For the post-Reformation bishops, see Bishop of Brechin (Episcopalian).
[edit] List of known abbots
| Tenure |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| fl. 1131x1150 |
Léot |
He was the father of the first bishop. It is very probable that the Gaelic Abbot of Brechin simply became Bishop of Brechin, so that the later bishopric of Brechin was based on the earlier monastic establishment. |
| fl. late 1100s |
Domnall |
Domnall nepos Léot, grandson of Abbot Léot, and probably son of Bishop Samson. |
| fl. early 1200s |
Eoin mac in Aba |
Grandson of Léot's son Máel Ísu. He was the father of Morgánn, Lord of Glenesk. |
[edit] List of known bishops
| Tenure |
Incumbent |
Notes |
| x 1150-1165 x 1169 |
Samson |
|
| 1178-1189 x 1198 |
Turpin |
|
| x 1198-1199-1212 |
Radulphus |
|
| 1214 x 1215-1218 |
Hugh (Áed) |
Probably from the native clerical family. |
| 1218-1248 |
Gregory |
|
| 1246-1269 |
Albin |
|
| 1269 x 1275 |
William |
Had been the dean of Brechin; the Papal legate, Ottobone, refused to consecrate him. One source says he appealed to the Pope and was consecrated, but authorities such as John Dowden doubt this. At any rate, he died on or before the year 1274. |
| 1275-1291 x 1297 |
William de Kilconcath |
Also William Comyn; Dominican friar. |
| 1296 x 1298 |
Nicholas |
|
| 1298-1323 x 1327 |
John de Kininmund |
|
| 1328-1349 |
Adam de Moravia |
|
| 1350-1351 |
Philip Wilde |
|
| 1351-1373 x 1383 |
Patrick de Leuchars |
|
| 1383-1404 x 1405 |
Stephen de Cellario |
|
| 1407-1425 x 1426 |
Walter Forrester |
|
| 1426-1453 |
John de Crannach |
Had previously been Bishop of Caithness. |
| 1454-1462 |
George de Schoriswood |
|
| 1463-1465 |
Patrick Graham |
Translated to the Bishopric of St. Andrews. |
| 1465-1488 |
John Balfour |
|
| 1488-1514 x 1516 |
William Meldrum |
|
| 1516-1557 |
John Hepburn |
|
| 1557-1559 |
Donald Campbell |
He had been the Abbot of Coupar Angus, and was the son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll. He was unable, despite the help of powerful patrons, to secure the bishopric. |
| 1565-1566 |
John Sinclair |
|
| 1566-1607 |
Alexander Campbell |
Provided while a minor. Resigned 1607. |
| 1607-1619 |
Andrew Lamb |
Became Bishop of Galloway. |
| 1619-1634 |
David Lindsay |
Became Bishop of Edinburgh. |
| 1634-1635 |
Thomas Sydserf |
Translated to be Bishop of Galloway. |
| 1635-1638 |
Walter Whiteford |
Deprived on December 13, 1638, along with other Scottish bishops in a general abolition of episcopacy which lasted until 1661. |
| 1662-1671 |
David Strachan |
Episcopacy restored. |
| 1671-1677 |
Robert Laurie |
|
| 1678–1682 |
George Haliburton |
Became Bishop of Aberdeen. |
| 1682-1684 |
Robert Douglas |
Translated to be Bishop of Dunblane. |
| 1684 |
Alexander Cairncross |
Translated to be Archbishop of Glasgow. |
| 1684-1688 |
James Drummond |
Episcopacy abolished in 1688. |
[edit] References
- Broun, Dauvit, “The Seven Kingdoms in De Situ Albanie: A Record of Pictish political geography or imaginary Map of ancient Alba”, in E.J. Cowan & R. Andrew McDonald (eds.), Alba: Celtic Scotland in the Medieval Era, (Edinburgh, 2000, rev. 2005), pp. 24-42
- 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, 1924)
- Watt, D.E.R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
