William de Spynie
Encyclopedia
William de Spynie was a Scottish
prelate. He was a canon
of Moray by 1363 and Precentor
(Chanter
) 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. It is possible he had become Dean of Dunkeld
in 1397, though this may be a mistake in the source, "Aberdeen" rather than "Dunkeld" being meant. At any rate, in that year he was elected to be the new Bishop of Moray
. He travelled to France
and on September 1397 was consecrated as Bishop.
William de Spynie's episcopate, like that of his predecessor Alexander Bur
's, suffered amid the political insecurity in this part of Scotland
. Alexander of Lochaber, brother of Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles
, had been using his role as "protector" of Moray, assigned to him by his brother and the absentee Earl, to further his own lordship. This included granting episcopal lands to his military followers. Tension gradually mounted and on 3 July 1402 Alexander burned much of the town of Elgin and plundered Elgin Cathedral
. Bishop William excommunicated
Alexander, and later in the year Alexander came to Spynie seeking forgiveness and bearing a gift of a large golden candle. Alexander was thereafter absolved.
Bishop William died at Elgin on 2 August 1406. He was buried in the choir
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
prelate. He was 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 Moray by 1363 and 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" ....
(Chanter
Chanter
The chanter is the part of the bagpipe upon which the player creates the melody. It consists of a number of finger-holes, and in its simpler forms looks similar to a recorder...
) of Aberdeen
Diocese of Aberdeen
Diocese of Aberdeen was one of the 13 dioceses of the Scottish church, before the abolition of the episcopacy in 1689.-Early history:...
in 1371. By 1372 x 1373, he had exchanged the latter position with William Boyl for the Precentorship of Moray. He had become Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Aberdeen by 1388. It is possible he had become Dean of Dunkeld
Diocese of Dunkeld
The Diocese of Dunkeld was one of the 13 historical dioceses of Scotland preceding the abolition of Episcopacy in 1689.-History:It is thought that the diocese was constituted as far back as the middle of the ninth century. The first occupant was styled Bishop of Fortriu, the name by which the...
in 1397, though this may be a mistake in the source, "Aberdeen" rather than "Dunkeld" being meant. At any rate, in that year he was elected to be the new 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...
. He travelled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and on September 1397 was consecrated as Bishop.
William de Spynie's episcopate, like that of his predecessor 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...
's, suffered amid the political insecurity in this part 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...
. Alexander of Lochaber, brother of Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles
Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles
Donald, or properly, Dómhnall Íle , was the son and successor of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles and chief of Clan Donald. The Lordship of the Isles was based in and around the Scottish west-coast island of Islay, but under Domhnall's father had come to include many of the other islands off the...
, had been using his role as "protector" of Moray, assigned to him by his brother and the absentee Earl, to further his own lordship. This included granting episcopal lands to his military followers. Tension gradually mounted and on 3 July 1402 Alexander burned much of the town of Elgin and plundered 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...
. Bishop William excommunicated
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
Alexander, and later in the year Alexander came to Spynie seeking forgiveness and bearing a gift of a large golden candle. Alexander was thereafter absolved.
Bishop William died at Elgin on 2 August 1406. He was buried in the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
.