Henry of Holyrood
Encyclopedia
Henry was a 13th century Augustinian abbot
and bishop
, most notable for holding the positions of Abbot of Holyrood
and Bishop of Galloway
.
It is not known when Henry became an Augustinian nor when he became Abbot of Holyrood Abbey
. His latest known predecessor, Elias son of Nicholas, occurs as abbot on 29 May 1236, and no abbot of Holyrood is known from then until 1253 when the Chronicle of Melrose
informs us that "Sir Gilbert, the bishop of Whithorn, died; and after him, sir Henry, the abbot of Holyrood, was elected".
This date is not however certain, as Henry's name occurs merely as Abbot, not even "bishop-elect", in a Dunfermline Abbey
document dated to October 1254. He was elected with the support of the Comyn faction who at that time dominated the minority
of the young King Alexander III of Scotland
, an election that John I de Balliol initially opposed, with Balliol citing the "ancient liberty of his subjects", i.e. the rights of the Lord of Galloway and the Galwegians. This objection is at first sight confusing, since John de Balliol himself was a Comyn ally and part of the Comyn regime. Richard Oram
argues that Balliol's objection was more concerned with his own rights of patronage, but at any rate Balliol's objections came to nothing.
There was an examination of the election at York
on 11 February 1255, and the election was apparently confirmed by the Archbishop of York
on 24 February; there was however a delay in consecration
of the bishop, as the report of his consecration in the Melrose Chronicle follows that of Gamelin
as Bishop of St Andrews, which took place on 25 December 1255. The sources give contradictory accounts of the consecration, with the Melrose Chronicle stating that it was conducted by Walter de Gray
(d. 1 May 1255), whereas the Lanercost Chronicle
reported that the consecration, conducted by Walter of Kirkham
, the Bishop of Durham, took place on 7 February 1255, at St Agatha's near Richmond
. D. E. R. Watt
thinks that the consecration may in fact have taken place in early 1256.
He was a witness to the foundation charter of Sweetheart Abbey
, dated April 1273. The Archbishop of York , in 1287, authorised that Bishop Henry, because of his old age, be excused from the annual visit to York usually paid by bishops of Galloway. The bishop was nevertheless able to visit Ireland
, where on 4 August 1291, his presence was recorded. He was at Birgham
on 17 March 1290, for the negotiation of the Treaty of Birgham
. He was one of the men chosen by John de Balliol the younger, afterwards King John of Scotland
, to represent him at the Great Cause in 1292. He died on 1 November 1293. He had been described by the Lanercost Chronicle as "a man discreet, holy, and provident for his house and his parish".
An excavation of Whithorn Priory
during 1957-67 uncovered the remains of various senior ecclesiastical figures whose identities were not known at the time. Research funded by Historic Scotland
in 2007 led to the identification of six bishops from the bones and artefacts in the graves, Henry amongst them. The techniques employed allowed the researchers to conclude that all the clerics enjoyed a diet of quality meat and fish and probably came from southern Scotland or Cumbria
. Henry's grave also contained "very fine gilded altar vessels, a gold pontifical ring, and the remains of a wooden crozier". The analysis enable researchers to conclude that Henry had taken a role in rebuilding parts of the priory after it was damaged by soldiers in 1286 and that he had been suffering from tooth abscesses.
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, most notable for holding the positions of Abbot of Holyrood
Abbot of Holyrood
The Abbot of Holyrood was the head of the Augustinian monastic community of Holyrood Abbey, now in Edinburgh. The long history of the abbey came to a formal end in July 1606 when the parliament of Scotland turned the abbey into a secular lordship for the last commendator, John Bothwell...
and 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...
.
It is not known when Henry became an Augustinian nor when he became Abbot of Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded...
. His latest known predecessor, Elias son of Nicholas, occurs as abbot on 29 May 1236, and no abbot of Holyrood is known from then until 1253 when the Chronicle of Melrose
Chronicle of Melrose
The Chronicle of Melrose is a medieval chronicle from the Cottonian Manuscript, Faustina B. ix within the British Museum. It was written by unknown authors, though evidence in the writing shows that it most likely was written by the monks at Melrose Abbey. The chronicle begins on the year 735 and...
informs us that "Sir Gilbert, the bishop of Whithorn, died; and after him, sir Henry, the abbot of Holyrood, was elected".
This date is not however certain, as Henry's name occurs merely as Abbot, not even "bishop-elect", in a Dunfermline Abbey
Dunfermline Abbey
Dunfermline Abbey is as a Church of Scotland Parish Church located in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. In 2002 the congregation had 806 members. The minister is the Reverend Alastair Jessamine...
document dated to October 1254. He was elected with the support of the Comyn faction who at that time dominated the minority
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
of the young King Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
, an election that John I de Balliol initially opposed, with Balliol citing the "ancient liberty of his subjects", i.e. the rights of the Lord of Galloway and the Galwegians. This objection is at first sight confusing, since John de Balliol himself was a Comyn ally and part of the Comyn regime. Richard Oram
Richard Oram
Professor Richard D. Oram F.S.A. is a Scottish historian. He is a Professor of Medieval and Environmental History at the University of Stirling and an Honorary Lecturer in History at the University of Aberdeen. He is also the director of the Centre for Environmental History and Policy at the...
argues that Balliol's objection was more concerned with his own rights of patronage, but at any rate Balliol's objections came to nothing.
There was an examination of the election at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
on 11 February 1255, and the election was apparently confirmed by the 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...
on 24 February; there was however a delay in consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
of the bishop, as the report of his consecration in the Melrose Chronicle follows that of Gamelin
Gamelin (bishop)
Gamelin was a 13th century Bishop of St Andrews. He had previously been the chancellor to King Alexander III of Scotland, as well as Papal chaplain. He was postulated to the see in Lent, 1255, and confirmed by Pope Alexander IV on 1 July 1255, who also agreed to overlook Gamelin's apparent "defect...
as Bishop of St Andrews, which took place on 25 December 1255. The sources give contradictory accounts of the consecration, with the Melrose Chronicle stating that it was conducted by Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray was an English prelate and statesman who rose to be Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor.-Life:Gray was the son of John de Gray the Elder of Eaton in Norfolk and nephew of John de Gray , Bishop of Norwich. His sister, Hawise, married the Justiciar of England, Philip Basset...
(d. 1 May 1255), whereas the Lanercost Chronicle
Lanercost Chronicle
The Lanercost Chronicle is a northern English and Scottish history covering the years 1201 to 1346. It covers the Wars of Scottish Independence, but it is also highly tangential and as such provides insights into English life in the thirteenth century as well as Scottish life...
reported that the consecration, conducted by Walter of Kirkham
Walter of Kirkham
-Early life:Walter was probably a native of Kirkham, Yorkshire. From about January 1224 Walter held the office of Keeper of the Wardrobe jointly with Walter Brackley. Brackley was out of office by February of 1229, but Walter continued to hold the office until 15 August 1231. He held the office...
, the Bishop of Durham, took place on 7 February 1255, at St Agatha's near Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Richmond is a market town and civil parish on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. It is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and serves as the Park's main tourist centre...
. D. E. R. Watt
D. E. R. Watt
Donald Elmslie Robertson Watt FRSE was a Scottish historian and Professor Emeritus at St Andrews University....
thinks that the consecration may in fact have taken place in early 1256.
He was a witness to the foundation charter of Sweetheart Abbey
Sweetheart Abbey
Sweetheart Abbey , south of Dumfries, near to the Nith in south-west Scotland, was a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1275 by Dervorguilla of Galloway, daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway, in memory of her husband John de Balliol...
, dated April 1273. The Archbishop of York , in 1287, authorised that Bishop Henry, because of his old age, be excused from the annual visit to York usually paid by bishops of Galloway. The bishop was nevertheless able to visit Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, where on 4 August 1291, his presence was recorded. He was at Birgham
Birgham
Birgham is a village in Berwickshire, parish of Eccles in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, near Coldstream and the River Tweed, on the A698...
on 17 March 1290, for the negotiation of the Treaty of Birgham
Treaty of Birgham
The Treaty of Birgham, also referred to as the Treaty of Salisbury, comprised two treaties intended to secure the independence of Scotland after Alexander III died without issue in 1286....
. He was one of the men chosen by John de Balliol the younger, afterwards King John of Scotland
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
, to represent him at the Great Cause in 1292. He died on 1 November 1293. He had been described by the Lanercost Chronicle as "a man discreet, holy, and provident for his house and his parish".
An excavation of Whithorn Priory
Whithorn Priory
Whithorn Priory is located in Wigtownshire, Galloway. It was founded about the middle of the twelfth century, in the reign of David I, by Fergus, Lord of Galloway, with Gille Aldan, Bishop of Galloway, for Premonstratensian Canons, referred colloquially in Britain as the White Canons.The canons of...
during 1957-67 uncovered the remains of various senior ecclesiastical figures whose identities were not known at the time. Research funded by Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
in 2007 led to the identification of six bishops from the bones and artefacts in the graves, Henry amongst them. The techniques employed allowed the researchers to conclude that all the clerics enjoyed a diet of quality meat and fish and probably came from southern Scotland or Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. Henry's grave also contained "very fine gilded altar vessels, a gold pontifical ring, and the remains of a wooden crozier". The analysis enable researchers to conclude that Henry had taken a role in rebuilding parts of the priory after it was damaged by soldiers in 1286 and that he had been suffering from tooth abscesses.