The Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese

Diocese

A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...

 of Ross

Ross

Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...

, one of Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

's 13 medieval bishopric

Diocese

A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...

s. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona

Adomnán of Iona

Saint Adomnán of Iona was abbot of Iona , hagiographer, statesman and clerical lawyer; he was the author of the most important Vita of Saint Columba and promulgator of the "Law of Innocents", lex innocentium, also called Cáin Adomnáin, "Law of Adomnán"...

's Cáin Adomnáin

Cáin Adomnáin

The Cáin Adomnáin , also known as the Lex Innocentium was promulgated amongst a gathering of Irish, Dál Riatan and Pictish notables at the Synod of Birr in 697. It is named after its initiator Adomnán of Iona, ninth Abbot of Iona after St...

. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie

Rosemarkie

Rosemarkie is a village on the south coast of the Black Isle peninsula in northern Scotland.-Geography:Rosemarkie lies a quarter of a mile east of the town of Fortrose...

 until the mid-13th century, afterwards being moved to nearby Fortrose

Fortrose

Fortrose is a burgh in the Scottish Highlands, located on the Moray Firth, approximately ten kilometres north east of Inverness. The town is known for its ruined 13th century cathedral, and as the home of the Brahan Seer. In the Middle Ages it was the seat of the bishopric of Ross...

 and Fortrose Cathedral

Fortrose Cathedral

Fortrose Cathedral was the episcopal seat of the medieval Scottish diocese of Ross. It is probable that the original site of the diocese was at Rosemarkie, but by the 13th century the canons had relocated a short distance to the south-west to the site known as Fortrose or Chanonry...

. As far as the evidence goes, this bishoric was the oldest of all bishoprics north of the Forth

River Forth

The River Forth , long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland.The Forth rises in Loch Ard in the Trossachs, a mountainous area some west of Stirling...

, 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

Bridei IV of the Picts

Bruide mac Der-Ilei was king of the Picts. He became king when Taran was deposed in 697.He was the brother of his successor Nechtan. It has been suggested that Bruide's father was Dargart mac Finguine of the Cenél Comgaill, a kingroup in Dál Riata who controlled Cowal and the Isle of Bute...

, 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

Moray

Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...

.

However, in the High

Scotland in the High Middle Ages

The High Middle Ages of Scotland encompass Scotland in the era between the death of Domnall II in 900 AD and the death of king Alexander III in 1286...

 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

Scottish Reformation

The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...

, but continued, saving temporary abolition between 1638 and 1661, under the episcopal Church of Scotland

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....

 until the Revolution of 1688. Episcopacy in the established church in Scotland was permanently abolished in 1689.

List of known bishops and abbots of Ross maic Bairend

Tenure	Incumbent	Notes
fl. 690x710	Curetán Curetán Saint Curetán was a Scoto-Pictish bishop and saint, whose floruit lay between 690 and 710. He is listed as one of the witnesses in the Cáin Adomnáin, where he is called "Curetan epscop"...	Later named or conflated with St Boniface. He is listed as one of the witnesses in the Cáin Adomnáin Cáin Adomnáin The Cáin Adomnáin , also known as the Lex Innocentium was promulgated amongst a gathering of Irish, Dál Riatan and Pictish notables at the Synod of Birr in 697. It is named after its initiator Adomnán of Iona, ninth Abbot of Iona after St... , where he is called "Curetan epscop". In the Matyrology 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 Rosemarkie Rosemarkie is a village on the south coast of the Black Isle peninsula in northern Scotland.-Geography:Rosemarkie lies a quarter of a mile east of the town of Fortrose...  in the Black Isle Black Isle The Black Isle is an eastern area of the Highland local government council area of Scotland, within the county of Ross and Cromarty. The name nearly always includes the article "the".... , Ross Ross Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area... .

List of known bishops of Ross

Tenure	Incumbent	Notes
fl. 1127 x 1131	Mac Bethad of Rosemarkie Mac Bethad of Rosemarkie Mac Bethad is the first recorded High Medieval Bishop of Ross, a See then located at Rosemarkie.He makes his only historical appearance as Macbeth Rosmarkensis Episcopus Mac Bethad (fl. 1127 x 1131) is the first recorded High Medieval Bishop of Ross, a See then located at Rosemarkie.He makes his...
fl. 1147 x 1151-1155	Symeon of Rosemarkie Symeon of Rosemarkie Symeon is the second known Bishop of Ross in the 12th century. His predecessor Mac Bethad occurred as bishop in a document datable between 1127 and 1131....
1161-1195	Gregoir of Rosemarkie Gregoir of Rosemarkie Gregoir [Gregory, Gregorius] is the third known 12th century Bishop of Ross, an episcopal see then based at Rosemarkie. According to the Chronicle of Melrose, Gregoir was consecrated by Ernald, Bishop of St Andrews acting as a Papal legate, in 1161.He occurred in a document of Scone Abbey in...
1195-1213	Reinald Macer Reinald Macer Reinald Macer [also called Reginald] was a medieval Cistercian monk and bishop, active in the Kingdom of Scotland during the reign of William the Lion. Originally a monk of Melrose Abbey, he rose to become Bishop of Ross in 1195, and held this position until his death in 1213...	Former monk of Melrose Abbey Melrose Abbey Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland... .
1213 x 1214	Andreas de Moravia Andreas de Moravia Andreas de Moravia was a 13th century Scottish bishop. He may have been from the "de Moravia" family of Flemish origin who were lords of Duffus and other areas in the Greater Moray region in this period. In the time of Bishop Bricius' episcopate , there was a man called "Andreas" who was rector of...	Was elected, but got permission from the Pope to resign.
1214-1249	Robert (elder)
1249-1271	Robert (younger)
1272-1274	Matthew
1275-1292 x 1295	Robert de Fyvie Robert de Fyvie Robert de Fyvie [also de Fyvin] was a prelate based in the Kingdom of Scotland in the last quarter of the 13th century. Perhaps coming from Fyvie in Formartine, from a family of Teesdale origin, Robert was Archdeacon of Ross and a student at the University of Bologna by 1269...
1292 x 1295-1295	Adam de Darlington Adam de Darlington Adam de Darlington [Derlingtun] was a 13th century English churchman based in the Kingdom of Scotland. Adam's name occurred for the first time in a Moray document datable between 1255 and 1271, where he was named as the Precentor of Fortrose Cathedral...	After 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 Bishop of Caithness The 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...  in the following year.
1293 x 1295-1325	Thomas de Dundee Thomas de Dundee Thomas de Dundee, also called Thomas Nicholay, was a Scottish prelate who held the bishopric of Ross during the First War of Scottish Independence...
1325-1350	Roger Roger (Bishop of Ross) Roger was a churchman based in the 14th century Kingdom of Scotland, and active as Bishop of Ross from 1325 until 1350. Before attaining this position, Roger was a canon of Abernethy; it is possible that Roger was an Augustinian, because it is often thought that Abernethy did not become a...	Perhaps the same as Roger de Balnebrich Roger de Balnebrich Roger de Balnebrich [de Balnebrech, de Balnebriech, de Ballinbreth] was a 14th century Scottish churchman. Roger received a university education, being styled Magister by August 1313, though it is not known where he took his degree; the degree, however, was almost certainly done in canon law... , unsuccessful Bishop-elect 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...  of Dunblane.
1350-1371	Alexander Stewart
1371-1398	Alexander de Kylwos Alexander de Kylwos Alexander de Kylwos - written alternatively as Frylquhous, Kylquos, and a variety of other forms - was a Scottish churchman and prelate active in the second half of the 14th century. He is known to have held senior positions in three bishoprics, and senior offices in two, before being elected and...
1398-1416 x 1418	Alexander de Waghorn Alexander de Waghorn Alexander de Waghorn , Bishop of Ross, bears a surname that may suggest an origin in the Glasgow area of southern Scotland, though there are other possibilities....
1416 x 1418	Thomas Lyell Thomas Lyell Thomas Lyell [or Lyel] was a Scottish clergyman associated with the diocese of Ross in the late 14th century and early 15th century. After William de Tarbat, Subdean of Ross, was elected Dean of Ross, on 1 May 1395, Thomas was provided as William's successor...	It 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.
1418-1422	Gruffydd Young Gruffydd Young Gruffydd Young was a cleric and a close supporter of Owain Glyndwr during his Welsh rebellion against the English King Henry IV between 1400 and 1412.- Winning favour :...	Anti-Bishop during schism. Welshman, formerly Bishop of Bangor Bishop of Bangor The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor.The diocese covers the counties of Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and a small part of Montgomeryshire... . Never obtained possession, but retained title until made titular Bishop of Hippo.
1418-1439 x 1440	John Bullock John Bullock John Bullock O.S.A. was an Augustinian canon and prelate active in the 15th century Kingdom of Scotland. While earning a university degree between 1409 and 1417, Bullock gained several benefices in Scotland, and claimed the headship of St Andrews Cathedral Priory before becoming Bishop of Ross in...
1440-1441	Andrew Munro Andrew Munro Andrew Munro [de Munro, de Munroy], or Aindréas Mac an Rothaich as his Gaelic kindred name, was a Scottish churchman active in the 15th century, undoubtedly given his surname a native of Ross of Clan Munro....	Previously, Archdeacon of Ross Archdeacon of Ross The Archdeacon of Ross was the only archdeacon in the medieval Diocese of Ross, acting as a deputy of the Bishop of Ross. The following is a list of archdeacons:-List of archdeacons of Ross:* Robert, x 1223-1249 x 1250* Robert de Fyvie, x 1269-1275... . He had been postulated by the chapter, but despite great expense and effort, Pope Eugene IV Pope Eugene IV Pope Eugene IV , born Gabriele Condulmer, was pope from March 3, 1431, to his death.-Biography:He was born in Venice to a rich merchant family, a Correr on his mother's side. Condulmer entered the Order of Saint Augustine at the monastery of St. George in his native city...  disallowed the postulation and appointed the bishopric to Thomas de Tulloch.
1440-1460 x 1461	Thomas de Tulloch Thomas Tulloch (Bishop of Ross) Thomas Tulloch [de Tulloch] was a prelate active in the Kingdom of Scotland in the 15th century. A letter of Pope Martin V in 1429 claimed that he was "of a great noble race by both parents"...
1461-1476	Henry Cockburn Henry Cockburn (bishop) Henry Cockburn was a 15th century Scottish prelate. Between 1461 and 1476, he was the Bishop of Ross.On 23 March 1461 he received papal provision to the bishopric of Ross vacant by, presumably, the death of Thomas de Tulloch...
1476-1480x1481	John Woodman John Woodman John Woodman [Wodman] was a 15th century churchman based in the Kingdom of Scotland. Woodman was a canon of the diocese of St Andrews, and as such was locally made Prior of Pittenweem on the death of the previous prior, James Kennedy, Bishop of St Andrews; however, he was opposed by one Walter...
1481-1483	William Elphinstone William Elphinstone William Elphinstone was a Scottish statesman, Bishop of Aberdeen and founder of the University of Aberdeen.He was born in Glasgow, and educated at the University of Glasgow, taking the degree of M.A. in 1452. After practising for a short time as a lawyer in the church courts, he was ordained a...	Was provided by 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,... , but in 1483 was translated to the Bishopric of Aberdeen Bishop of Aberdeen The Bishop of Aberdeen was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Aberdeen, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Nechtan... .
1483-1488 x 1492	Thomas Hay Thomas Hay Thomas Hay was a 15th century Scottish prelate. A canon of the diocese and cathedral of Aberdeen, on the translation of William Elphinstone from Bishop of Ross to Bishop of Aberdeen, Hay was provided as Elphinstone's successor in Ross, this occurring on 16 May 1483...
1492-1492 x 1494	John Guthrie John Guthrie (Bishop of Ross) John Guthrie was a 15th century Scottish prelate, who was sometime Bishop of Ross, an office based at Fortrose on the Black Isle in Ross....
1497-1507	John Fraser John Fraser (bishop) John Fraser [also, more commonly then, Frisel or Frisell] was a late medieval Scottish prelate. Born about 1429 or 1430 if later tradition can be believed, with strong connections to the burgh of Linlithgow, Fraser held a variety of high-level ecclesiastical positions in Scotland, including being...
1507-1524	Robert Cockburn 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"...	Translated to bishopric of Dunkeld Bishop of Dunkeld The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunkeld, one of the largest and more important of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th century cleric named Cormac...  in 1524.
1523-1538	James Hay James Hay (bishop) James Hay O. Cist. was a Cistercian abbot and bishop important in the early 16th century Kingdom of Scotland. At some stage in his life he achieved a doctorate in decrees , enabling him to be styled D...
1538-1545	Robert Cairncross Robert Cairncross Robert Cairncross was a Scottish bishop.At various times he was provost of Corstorphine, abbot of Holyrood. He was appointed bishop of Ross in 1539, holding in commendam the abbacy of Fern...
1547-1558	David Panter David Panter David Panter [also written Painter, or Paniter] , Scottish diplomat, clerk and bishop of Ross, was the illegitimate son of Patrick Paniter, secretary to James IV; his mother was Margaret Crichton, illegitimate daughter of William Crichton, 3rd Lord Crichton and widow countess of Rothes.He and his...
1558-1565	Henry Sinclair Henry Sinclair (bishop) Henry Sinclair , lord-president of the court of session and bishop of Ross.Henry Sinclair was brother of Oliver Sinclair. He studied at St. Leonard's College, St. Andrews and was appointed lord of session, 1537. In 1541 he was named abbot or perpetual commendator of the abbey of Kilwinning...
1566-1568/73/92	John Lesley John Lesley John Lesley was a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop and historian. His father was Gavin Lesley, rector of Kingussie, Badenoch.-Early career:...	Most 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.
1574-1578	Alexander Hepburn Alexander Hepburn Alexander Hepburn was a 16th century Scottish cleric. He was elected as bishop of Ross on 14 May 1574, following the Church of Scotland's attempted forfeiture of the catholic bishop John Lesley....	See above.
1600-1613	David Lindsay
1613-1633	Patrick Lindsay	Became Archbishop of Glasgow Archbishop of Glasgow The Bishop of Glasgow, from 1492 Archbishop of Glasgow, was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Glasgow and then, as Archbishop of Glasgow, the Archdiocese of Glasgow... .
1633-1638	John Maxwell	Episcopacy abolished in December 1638. Maxwell became Bishop of Killala and Achonry Bishop of Killala and Achonry The Bishop of Killala and Achonry was the Ordinary of the Church of Ireland diocese of Killala and Achonry in the Ecclesiastical Province of Tuam. The diocese comprised part of Counties Mayo and Sligo in Ireland....  in 1641 and Archbishop of Tuam Archbishop of Tuam The Archbishop of Tuam is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Roman Catholic Church.-History:...  in 1645.
1662-1679	John Paterson	First bishop in the "Restoration Episcopate".
1679-1684	Alexander Young Alexander Young (bishop) Alexander Young was a 17th century Scottish prelate. Young was born in Aberdeen of the Altbar family. In the winter of 1671, he became Bishop of Edinburgh, a position he held until his translation to be Bishop of Ross in 1679...	Previously Bishop of Edinburgh Bishop of Edinburgh The Bishop of Edinburgh is the Ordinary of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh.The see was founded in 1633 by King Charles I. William Forbes was consecrated in St. Giles' Cathedral as its first bishop on 23 January 1634 though he died later that year... . Died 1684.
1684-1689	James Ramsay James Ramsay (bishop) James Ramsay , bishop of Dunblane, bishop of Ross, was son of Robert Ramsay . The latter was successively minister of Dundonald , of Blackfriars or College Church, Glasgow , and of the High Church , Glasgow ; was dean of the faculty of Glasgow University 1646 and 1650–1, rector in 1648, and...	Previously Bishop of Dunblane 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... . Deprived of his see with the Abolition of Episcopacy in the Church of Scotland Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation.... , 22 July 1689.

External links

• Dauvit Broun's list of 12th century Scottish Bishops