The Dean of Moray was the head of the cathedral chapter

Cathedral chapter

In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...

 of the diocese of Moray

Diocese of Moray

The Diocese of Moray was one of the most important of the medieval dioceses in Scotland. It was founded in the early years of the 12th century by David I of Scotland under its first bishop, Gregoir...

, north-central 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...

, based at Elgin Cathedral

Elgin Cathedral

Elgin Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, sometimes referred to as The Lantern of the North is a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland. It was established in 1224 on an area of ground granted by Alexander II that was close to the River Lossie and outside of the burgh of...

. 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 1207 and 1211. The position remained in existence until the 17th century.

List of Deans of Moray

The following is a list of known Deans of Moray:

DEAN	TENURE	EPISCOPATE	NOTES
Freskin	× 1207 × 1211-1226×1230	Bricius de Douglas, 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...	Probably surnamed de Douglas. He is attested as Dean in two documents, one dated 1207 × 1211, and one June 19, 1226.
Hugh	1226×1230-1230	Andreas de Moravia	Probably surnamed de Douglas. He is attested as Dean in one document, dated between June 19, 1226 (see above) and September 4, 1230 (see below).
Simon de Gunby Simon de Gunby Simon was a 13th century prelate based in Moray, Scotland. Professor Donald Watt has shown , through the extrapolation of indirect evidence, that his surname was almost certainly "de Gunby"....	1230×1232-1244	Andreas de Moravia	Surname de Gunby is probable, not certain. He is attested as Dean in two documents, dated September 4, 1230 and July 26, 1232. He became Bishop of Moray Bishop of Moray The Bishop of Moray or Bishop of Elgin was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Moray in northern Scotland, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics...  in 1244.
Archibald Archibald (d. 1298) Archibald was a 13th century Scottish prelate best known for involvement in a dispute with the Pope.His Flemish name could indicate a connection with the de Douglas or de Moravia families either by kinship or geography, but there is no other direct evidence of this...	1244×1249-1253	Simon de Gunby	Surname unknown. His identification with the later bishop is very probable, though not certain. He is attested as Dean in two documents, dated February 4 and March 20, 1249. The Bishop Archibald was consecrated as Bishop in 1253.
Nicholas de Hedon	1253-1254 × 1260	Archibald	Nicholas was provided to the deanery by Pope Innocent IV Pope Innocent IV Pope Innocent IV , born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 25, 1243 until his death in 1254.-Early life:... . Thereafter he litigated with the locally elected dean, Andrew de Dunn, and emerged as successful on December 19, 1253. He was confirmed by Pope Innocent IV on January 7, 1254, and then reconfirmed by Pope Alexander IV Pope Alexander IV Pope Alexander IV was Pope from 1254 until his death.Born as Rinaldo di Jenne, in Jenne , he was, on his mother's side, a member of the de' Conti di Segni family, the counts of Segni, like Pope Innocent III and Pope Gregory IX...  a year or so later.
Andrew de Dunn	1253	Archibald	Elected locally, but lost out at papal curia to Nicholas de Hedon by end of the year. See above.
William de Dunn	1254 × 1260-1275 × 1296	Archibald	First attested as Dean on April 11, 1260. Attested again as Dean on January 10, 1275. Next known dean is first attested on August 28, 1296.
Walter Herok Walter Herok Walter Herok [Herot] was a cleric from 13th century and 14th century Scotland. He served as Dean of Moray from 1296 or before until 1329. In that year, after the death of Henry le Chen, he was elected Bishop of Aberdeen. Walter travelled to Avignon to receive consecration from Pope John XXII, but...	1275 × 1296-1329	Archibald, David de Moravia David de Moravia David de Moravia was Bishop of Moray during most of the First War of Scottish Independence. He was elected Bishop of Moray, probably in early 1299. Extended details exist regarding the election because of an extant letter of Pope Boniface VIII. The result of the election was that David had 13... , John de Pilmuir John de Pilmuir John de Pilmuir [Pilmor, Pylmore] was a 14th century prelate based in Scotland. He was probably the son of Adam de Pilmuir, a Dundee burgess, and the brother of Richard de Pilmuir, Bishop of Dunkeld ....	First attested as Dean on August 28, 1296. He was still in possession of deanery on March 15, 1329, but died later in the year at the papal curia while pursuing his election as Bishop 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... .
Andrew de Hirdmaniston	1329-1333 × 1349	John de Pilmuir	The pope provided him as Dean on September 19, 1329, following Herok. He is attested again on May 10, 1333, but not thereafter.
John Paniter	1333 ×1345-1345 × 1349	John de Pilmuir	He is not attested during his own lifetime, but is mentioned as the last and recently deceased Dean when sometime before November 8, 1349, but after January 25, 1345, his successor was confirmed in possession by the Pope.
William de Pilmuir	1345 × 1349-1358 × 1368	John de Pilmuir, Alexander Bur Alexander Bur Alexander Bur was a 14th-century Scottish cleric. It is highly possible that Bur came from somewhere in or around Aberdeenshire, although that is not certain and is only based on the knowledge that Aberdeenshire is where other people bearing his surname come from in this period...	William became Dean sometime between January 25, 1345 and November 8, 1349. He is attested in possession again on May 2, 1358, but had died sometime before December 7, 1368.
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...	1368-1371	Alexander Bur	Kylwos was provided to the deanery on December 7, 1368. He had possession by December 19, 1370. Was provided as Bishop of Ross Bishop of Ross 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...  on May 9, 1371.
Thomas de Harcars	1368	Alexander Bur	According to papal documents, Harcars was provided to the deanery on December 11, 1368, despite the apparent provision of Kylwose four days before. He died sometime before May 3, 1370, apparently without ever having possession of the deanery.
Robert Sinclair	1371-1391	Alexander Bur	He was granted papal provision on May 28, 1371. He was provided as Bishop of Orkney Bishop of Orkney The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern Scotland. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St...  on January 27, 1384, but on February 10 was granted dispensation to retain the deanery along with his Orkney bishopric, of which he never had possession (see Western Schism Western Schism The Western Schism or Papal Schism was a split within the Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417. Two men simultaneously claimed to be the true pope. Driven by politics rather than any theological disagreement, the schism was ended by the Council of Constance . The simultaneous claims to the papal chair... ). This dispensation was revoked on March 21, 1391, after he became Bishop 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... , a bishopric of which he did gain possession.
Walter Trail Walter Trail Walter Trail was a late 14th century Bishop of St. Andrews. He appears as an official in the Bishopric of Glasgow in 1378, as a Magister Artium and a Licentiate in Canon and civil law. In 1380, he is a doctor in Canon and Civil Law, as well as a Papal chaplain and auditor. In this year, Pope...	1383	Alexander Bur	Trail got provision to the Moray deanery on November 28, 1383 because Sinclair was expected to resign; that did not occur, for which see above.
John de Douglas	1391-1424 × 1428	Alexander Bur, William de Spynie William de Spynie William de Spynie was a Scottish prelate. He was a canon of Moray by 1363 and Precentor of Aberdeen in 1371. By 1372 x 1373, he had exchanged the latter position with William Boyl for the Precentorship of Moray. He had become Dean of Aberdeen by 1388... , John de Innes John de Innes John de Innes was medieval Scottish churchman. Born probably in Moray, he went to France in his youth, receiving a bachelorate in civil law from the University of Paris by 1396 and in canon law by 1407. His education was partly paid for by the prebend of Duffus and a grant from Alexander Bur,... , Henry de Lichton Henry de Lichton Henry de Lichton [de Lychtone, Leighton] was a medieval Scottish prelate and diplomat, who, serving as Bishop of Moray and Bishop of Aberdeen , became a significant patron of the church, a cathedral builder, and a writer... , Columba de Dunbar Columba de Dunbar Columba de Dunbar was Bishop of Moray from 1422 until his death at Spynie Palace near Elgin sometime before 7 November 1435.Columba was "of Royal race", the youngest "lawful son of George de Dunbar, 10th Earl of March" and his spouse Christian née Seton.His father, who supported the so-called...	Douglas got papal provision after the revocation of Sinclair's provision on March 21, 1391. He was still in possession of the deanery on April 13, 1424. Date of death is not known, but it occurred before March 10, 1428.
John Derling	1424	Columba de Dunbar	Received provision to deanery on April 13, 1424, but died in the following month. It is unclear why Derling got this provision.
Walter Stewart	1428-1433 × 1434	Columba de Dunbar	Stewart was elected to the deanery following the death of Douglas (1424 × 1428), and had possession by August 11, 1428, when he received papal provision. Stewart still had possession on February 26, 1433, but had died sometime before January 9, 1434.
Thomas Archer	1428-1428 × 1429	Columba de Dunbar	Received papal provision on March 1428, presumably without knowing or in opposition to the election of Stewart. Sometime before May 1429 he had resigned his rights to Stewart in exchange for the position of Treasurer of Dunkeld.
William Turnbull	1434-1435	Columba de Dunbar, John de Winchester John de Winchester John de Winchester was a 15th century English cleric who distinguished himself as an administrator and bishop in Scotland. Winchester was a student of canon law from 1418, graduating with a bachelorate in 1421....	Turnbull received provision in the first half of 1434, after Walter Stewart's death. He litigated with James Stewart, and had lost possession to Stewart by November 11, 1435.
James Stewart James Stewart (d. 1466) James Stewart was a prelate from 15th century Scotland. Stewart was a member of the Stewart kindred of Lorne. He was Dean of Moray from 1435 until May 19, 1460, when he was provided to the bishopric. He was consecrated as Bishop of Moray sometime towards the end of the year. He resigned the see...	1435-1460	John de Winchester	After litigation with Turnbull, Stewart had won papal provision and possession by November 11, 1435. He held the deanery until he was provided as Bishop of Moray on May 19, 1460.
Andrew Stewart Andrew Stewart (d. 1501) Andrew Stewart was a 15th century Scottish prelate and administrator.-Biography:Born between 1442 and 1444, he was the son of Joan Beaufort , widow of King James I of Scotland and former Queen-consort, and her second husband, James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorne...	1460-1482	James Stewart, David Stewart David Stewart (bishop) David Stewart was a prelate from 15th century Scotland. A member of the Stewart kindred of Lorne, he is known to have held a succession of senior ecclesiastical positions in northern Scotland before eventually succeeding his brother James Stewart as Bishop of Moray.David was provided to the... , William de Tulloch	Andrew Stewart was provided to deanery on May 19, 1460, upon James Stewart's elevation to the bishopric.
Gavin Vaiche	1482-1486	Andrew Stewart	After elevation of Andrew Stewart to the bishopric, Vaiche, chaplain of the King, was present to the deanery; he received provision to the deanery on May 17, 1483. He was still in possession on September 3, 1486, but had died before December 26.
James Chisholm James Chisholm 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...	1482-1487	Andrew Stewart	Chisholm claimed to have had papal provision to deanery after elevation to bishopric of Andrew Stewart. Does not seem to have ever had possession. He resigned his right on March 1, 1487, but got new provision on March 27, despite being provided as 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...  in the previous January.
William Turnbull	1484-1487	Andrew Stewart	Turnbull received papal provision in sometime after August 14, 1484, but resigned his rights on September 18.
Gavin Dunbar senior	1484/6-1518	Andrew Stewart, Andrew Forman Andrew Forman Andrew Forman was a Scottish diplomat and prelate who became Bishop of Moray in 1501, Archbishop of Bourges in France, in 1513, Archbishop of St Andrews in 1514 as well as the headship of several monasteries.... James Hepburn James Hepburn (bishop) James Hepburn was a Scottish prelate and administrator. He was the son of Alexander Hepburn of Whitsome. His name occurs as the rector of Dalry and king's clerk on 1 August 1511. Hepburn was Treasurer of Scotland between from at least June 1515, until October the following year...	Dunbar had some rights to the deanery in 1484, which he resigned in the same year. After the death of Vaiche in 1486, he was elected by the chapter; in the following year, 1487, he was confirmed by both the Bishop of Moray and the Pope. He resigned the running of the deanery to Gavin Dunbar junior in 1517, but retained the rights to the fruits of the benefice. He resigned these to Gavin Dunbar junior after being provided as Bishop of Aberdeen on November 5, 1518.
James Lindsay	1486-1488	Andrew Stewart	Lindsay was provided by the Pope to deanery after Vaiche's death, perhaps in ignorance of the election of Dunbar. He resigned his rights to Dunbar on March 28, 1488, without ever having obtained possession.
John Spens	1487-1488	Andrew Stewart	Spens got provision on April 26, 1486. On August 23, 1487, he agreed to accept a pension from Dunbar, and on this was formally approved by Rome on June 29, 1488. He never obtained possession.
Gavin Dunbar junior Gavin Dunbar (archbishop) Gavin Dunbar was a 16th century archbishop of Glasgow. He was the third son of John Dunbar of Mochrum and Janet Stewart.Gavin Dunbar, his uncle, resigned as Dean of Moray on 5 November 1518 to take up the post of bishop of Aberdeen but managed to secure his former position for his nephew...	1517-1525	James Hepburn	Dunbar was provided to deanery, without fruits, on September 11, 1517; in the following year the Dean Gavin Dunbar senior resigned these fruits after becoming Bishop of Aberdeen. Dunbar was consecrated as 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...  on February 5, 1525.
Alexander Dunbar senior	1525-1548/9	Robert Shaw Robert Shaw (bishop) Robert Shaw was a Scottish cluniac monk and prelate. A son of the Laird of Sauchie, he became a monk at Paisley Abbey. He was provided as Abbot of Paisley after the resignation of Abbot George Shaw on July 20, 1498. As abbot, he took an active if unimportant role in national affairs, appearing... , Alexander Stewart Alexander Stewart (d. 1537) Alexander Stewart was a Scottish prelate; also known as Alexander Stewart of Pitcairn. He was the son of Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, and his first wife Catherine Sinclair, daughter of William Sinclair, Earl of Orkney and Earl of Caithness... , Patrick Hepburn Patrick Hepburn Sir Patrick Hepburn of Dunsyre, 1st Lord Hailes was the feudal lord of Hailes and its castle in Haddingtonshire and a Lord of Parliament.-Family:...	First occurs as Dean on March 26, 1525. The deanery was resigned to David Dunbar in 1548, though David was denied the fruits of the office. Alexander Dunbar however was dead by December 18, 1549.
David Dunbar	1548/9-1557	Patrick Hepburn	He was granted provision without fruits on January 12, 1548. Presumably he gained these in the following year when Alexander Dunbar died. David Dunbar died a short time before February 28, 1557.
Alexander Campbell senior	1557-1563	Patrick Hepburn	He received crown presentation to the deanery following David Dunbar's death in 1557. He was instituted as Dean in March 1557. He appears to have agreed to renounce his rights in favour of Alexander Dunbar (see below) on February 2, 1560 in exchange for five year tack of the fruits, but Campbell was styled being styled "Dean" (and Dunbar "Succentor") until 1563, when his nephew John Campbell took over.
John Campbell	1563-1566	Patrick Hepburn	He was provost of Kilmun Kilmun Kilmun is a linear settlement on the north shore of the Holy Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It runs between the head of the loch and connects with the village of Strone at Strone Point, where the loch joins the Firth of Clyde....  when he succeeded his uncle John. He received crown presentation on April 29, 1563, and then again on July 6, 1564. He resigned his rights to the deanery to Alexander Dunbar on July 25, 1566, in return for a pension, though sources still (accurately or not) style him as such in 1568.
Alexander Dunbar junior	1557/65/66-1590/3	Patrick Hepburn, George Douglas George Douglas (bishop) George Douglas was a late medieval Scottish nobleman and prelate. A son of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, he was elected by the chapter of the diocese of Moray by 22 December 1573 several months after the death of Patrick Hepburn, the previous Bishop of Moray. He held the bishopric for 16...	The son of David Dunbar, and succentor Succentor The Succentor in an ancient cathedral foundation sings psalms and Preces and Responses after the Precentor. In English cathedrals today the priest responsible for liturgy and music is usually the Precentor, but some cathedrals, such as St Paul's and Durham, retain a Succentor as well. Westminster...  of Moray upon father's death, he was claiming right of succession by right of papal provision. He received crown presentation and permission to seek confirmation from Rome on September 30, 1559, but this did not work out because of 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... . He was still only succentor on December 10, 1565, when the crown recognised his superior right over Campbell, and although he was instituted as Dean on December 24, it was not until June 27, 1566, that he is first styled "Dean". He resigned on or shortly before June 21, 1590, in order to pave the way for his son Thomas Dunbar, but retained the fruits of the benefice until his death in 1593.
Thomas Dunbar	1590-1620	George Douglas None (1589-1602) Alexander Douglas Alexander Douglas (d. 1623) Alexander Douglas was a Church of Scotland minister and bishop. Minister at Elgin for 17 years, he was elevated to the bishopric of Moray, receiving crown provision on November 30, 1602. He was not consecrated, however, for over eight years, not until he received consecration at Edinburgh on March...	On June 24, 1590, he received crown presentation to the deanery, following the resignation of Alexander Dunbar. He became Presbytyr of Forres Forres Forres , is a town and former royal burgh situated in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast, approximately 30 miles east of Inverness. Forres has been a winner of the Scotland in Bloom award on several occasions...  on March 4, 1591. He was minister of Nairn Nairn Nairn is a town and former burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is an ancient fishing port and market town around east of Inverness...  in 1590, becoming minister of Auldearn Auldearn Auldearn is a village situated east of the River Nairn, just outside Nairn in the Highland council area of Scotland. It takes its name from William the Lyon's castle of Eren , built there in the 12th century....  from 1591. He died in possession in December 1620.
John Brodie	1621-1655	Alexander Douglas, John Guthrie John Guthrie (Bishop of Moray) John Guthrie was a Scottish prelate active in the first half of the 17th century. The son of the goldsmith Patrick Guthrie and Margaret née Rait, in 1597 he completed an MA at the University of St Andrews, becoming a Reader at the church of Arbroath in the same year...	Brodie was presented to the benefice by Alexander Lindsay, Lord Spynie Lord Spynie The Lordship of Parliament of Spynie was created once in the Peerage of Scotland on 4 November 1590 for Sir Alexander Lindsay. On the death of the third lord in 1671, the lordship became dormant.-Lords Spynie :... ; on January 31, 1622, Brodie obtained a decree forcing his parishioners to pay him the fruits of the benefice for the year 1621. He occurs as "Dean" on January 23, 1623, but styled "Minister of Auldearn" thereafter although styled occasionally referred to as "the dean". He died, still in possession of the benefice, on January 7, 1655.