Bishop of Ross (Scotland)

the Scottish bishop

The 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 century, afterwards being moved to nearby Fortrose and Fortrose Cathedral. As far as the evidence goes, this bishopric was the oldest of all bishoprics north of the Forth, and was perhaps the only Pictish bishopric until the 9th century. Indeed, the Cáin Adomnáin indicates that in the reign of Bruide 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 of Fortriu, being just across the water from Moray. However, in the High and Later 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 the Scottish Reformation, but continued, saving temporary abolition between 1638 and 1661, under the episcopal Church of Scotland until the Revolution of 1688. Episcopacy in the established church in Scotland was permanently abolished in 1689.

TenureIncumbentNotesfl. 690x710CuretánLater named or conflated with St Boniface. He is listed as one of the witnesses in the Cáin Adomnáin, where he is called "Curetan epscop". In the Martyrology of Tallaght he is called "of Ross Mand Bairend" and in the Martyrology of O'Gorman he is styled "bishop and abbot of Ross maic Bairend". It is modern histiography that places this location at Rosemarkie in the Black Isle, Ross.

TenureIncumbentNotesfl. 1127 x 1131Mac Bethad of Rosemarkiefl. 1147 x 1151 1155Symeon of Rosemarkie1161 1195Gregoir of Rosemarkie1195 1213Reinald MacerFormer monk of Melrose Abbey.1213 x 1214Andreas de MoraviaWas elected, but got permission from the Pope to resign.1214 1249Robert (elder)1249 1271Robert (younger)1272 1274Matthew1275 1292 x 1295Robert de Fyvie1292 x 1295 1295Adam de DarlingtonAfter 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; became Bishop of Caithness in the following year.1293 x 1295 1325Thomas de Dundee1325 1350RogerPerhaps the same as Roger de Balnebrich, unsuccessful Bishop elect of Dunblane.1350 1371Alexander Stewart1371 1398Alexander de Kylwos1398 1416 x 1418Alexander de Waghorn1416 x 1418Thomas LyellIt appears that, although he appears briefly in the sources as "Bishop elect", he never appears to have been consecrated, namely because Avignon Pope Benedict XIII had reserved the see for his own appointment.1418 1422Gruffydd YoungAnti Bishop during schism. Welshman, formerly Bishop of Bangor. Never obtained possession, but retained title until made titular Bishop of Hippo.1418 1439 x 1440John Bullock1440 1441Andrew MunroPreviously, Archdeacon of Ross. He had been postulated by the chapter, but despite great expense and effort, Pope Eugene IV disallowed the postulation and appointed the bishopric to Thomas de Tulloch.1440 1460 x 1461Thomas de Tulloch1461 1476Henry Cockburn1476 1480x1481John Woodman1481 1483William ElphinstoneWas provided by Pope Sixtus IV, but in 1483 was translated to the Bishopric of Aberdeen.1483 1488 x 1492Thomas Hay1492 1492 x 1494John Guthrie1497 1507John Fraser1507 1524Robert CockburnTranslated to bishopric of Dunkeld in 1524.1523 1538James Hay1538 1545Robert Cairncross1547 1558David Panter1558 1565 Henry Sinclair1566 1568/73/92John LesleyMost 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 the Bishop of Coutances in 1592. Died 31 May 1596.1574 1578Alexander HepburnSee above.1600 1613David Lindsay1613 1633Patrick LindsayBecame Archbishop of Glasgow.1633 1638John MaxwellEpiscopacy abolished in December 1638. Maxwell became Bishop of Killala and Achonry in 1641 and Archbishop of Tuam in 1645.1662 1679John PatersonFirst bishop in the "Restoration Episcopate".1679 1684Alexander YoungPreviously Bishop of Edinburgh. Died 1684.1684 1689James RamsayPreviously Bishop of Dunblane. Deprived of his see with the Abolition of Episcopacy in the Church of Scotland, 22 July 1689.