Walter I, Prior of St Andrews
Encyclopedia
Walter I was a 12th-century Augustinian Anglo-Norman
prelate active in the kingdom of Scotland
.
A canon
of St Andrews Cathedral Priory
(in Fife
), he was precentor
of the cathedral when he became prior of St Andrews
in 1160. Walter Bower
, our principal source for Walter, says that he served as prior for 24 years before resigning on grounds of ill-health. Bower's "24 years" is probably a mistake for "34 years", as other sources attest his priorship from his accession in 1160 (the Chronicle of Melrose
) to his last charter appearance in 1195.
His successor was Gilbert I
. Gilbert died within a few years of taking office, in later 1198 or early 1199, and because of this Walter briefly resumed office. Walter died "within the same year" [Bower], probably sometime in 1199. Thomas, the former sub-prior, is attested as prior of St Andrews for the first time in a document dating to 6 June 1199. Walter's time as prior coincided with the episcopates of bishops Ernald
, Richard
, John the Scot, Hugh
and Roger de Beaumont
.
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
prelate active in the kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
.
A canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St Andrews Cathedral Priory
St Andrews Cathedral Priory
St Andrews Cathedral Priory was a priory of Augustinian canons in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Plans were made for its foundation in the reign of Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim , who set aside some land for that purpose. It was finally established by King David I and his son in 1140 with canons from...
(in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
), he was precentor
Precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
of the cathedral when he became prior of St Andrews
Prior of St Andrews
The Prior of St Andrews was the head of the property and community of Augustinian canons of St Andrews Cathedral Priory, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. It was established by King David I in 1140 with canons from Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire...
in 1160. Walter Bower
Walter Bower
Walter Bower , Scottish chronicler, was born about 1385 at Haddington, East Lothian.He was abbot of Inchcolm Abbey from 1418, was one of the commissioners for the collection of the ransom of James I, King of Scots, in 1423 and 1424, and in 1433 one of the embassy to Paris on the business of the...
, our principal source for Walter, says that he served as prior for 24 years before resigning on grounds of ill-health. Bower's "24 years" is probably a mistake for "34 years", as other sources attest his priorship from his accession in 1160 (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...
) to his last charter appearance in 1195.
His successor was Gilbert I
Gilbert I, Prior of St Andrews
Gilbert was a 12th-century Augustinian canon. Active in Scotland, he may have been of Anglo-Norman origin.Gilbert was a canon of St Andrews Cathedral Priory when he became prior of St Andrews in either 1196 or 1197, succeeding Prior Walter who had resigned because of ill-health...
. Gilbert died within a few years of taking office, in later 1198 or early 1199, and because of this Walter briefly resumed office. Walter died "within the same year" [Bower], probably sometime in 1199. Thomas, the former sub-prior, is attested as prior of St Andrews for the first time in a document dating to 6 June 1199. Walter's time as prior coincided with the episcopates of bishops Ernald
Ernald
Ernald was the second Abbot of Kelso before becoming Bishop of Cell Rígmonaid , the highest ranking Scottish see in the period. He was elected to the see on Sunday, St. Brice's Day 1160, and was consecrated at Dunfermline in the presence of King Máel Coluim IV the following Sunday by William,...
, Richard
Richard the Chaplain
Richard the Chaplain was the Chaplain of King Máel Coluim IV before becoming Bishop of Cell Rígmonaid , the highest ranking Scottish see of the period. He came from a well connected Anglo-Norman Lothian-based family, and was the nephew of Alwin, Abbot of Holyrood...
, John the Scot, Hugh
Hugh the Chaplain
Hugh the Chaplain was the royal Chaplain of King William I of Scotland before becoming Bishop of Cell Rígmonaid , the highest ranking Scottish see of the period. After the death of Bishop Richard, King William selected Hugh to succeed to the bishopric in 1178...
and Roger de Beaumont
Roger de Beaumont (bishop)
Roger de Beaumont was Bishop of St Andrews .-Life:He was the son of Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester. Roger's position as a younger son of the Earl of Leicester meant that Roger had to seek a fortune elsewhere, and did so withiin the church...
.