Bishop of Dunkeld

The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Roman [Catholic Diocese of Dunkeld|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. However, the first known abbot dates to the 10th century, and it is often assumed that in Scotland in the period before the 12th century, the roles of both bishop and abbot were one and the same. The Bishopric of Dunkeld ceased to exist as a Catholic institution after the Scottish Reformation but continued as a royal institution into the 17th century. The diocese was restored by Pope Leo XIII on 4 March 1878; it is now based in the city of Dundee.

List of known abbots

Dunkeld Abbey was an offshoot of Iona, perhaps founded in the early 9th century, in the reign of Caustantín mac Fergusa, King of the Picts. It is not clear when its abbots got independence from the Abbots of Iona, but a notable event is the alleged transfer of the relics of Columba to Dunkeld during the reign of the Scoto-Pictish king Cináed mac Ailpín. Its abbots, like many Gaelic abbots of the period, took a strong role in secular affairs, hence the term "lay abbot". The following is a list of known abbots of Dunkeld; the list is not exhaustive.

Tenure	Incumbent	Notes
d. 865	Túathal of Dunkeld	The Annals of Ulster, s.a. 865.6, records his obit and writes "Tuathal m. Artgusso prim-epscop Fortrenn & abbas Duin Caillenn", that is, "Túathal son of Artgus, chief bishop of Fortriu and Abbot of Dunkeld ".
d. 873	Flaithbertach of Dunkeld	The Annals of Ulster, s.a. 873.8, records his obit and writes "Flaithbertach m. Muirchertaigh, princeps Duin Chaillden, obiit", that is, "Flaithbertach son of Muirchertach, superior of Dún Caillen, died".
d. 965	Dúnchad of Dunkeld	Dúnchad was killed along with Dubdon, Mormaer of Atholl in the battle of dorsum Crup, fought between king Dub and king Cuilén.
d. 1045	Crínán of Dunkeld	Progenitor of the Dunkeld Dynasty, who ruled Scotland for more than two centuries.
fl. 1097	Ethelred of Scotland	Son of king Máel Coluim III.

List of known pre-Reformation bishops

The Bishopric of Dunkeld was one of the largest in medieval Scotland. However, in 1200, half of its territory was used to create the new Bishopric of Argyll.

Tenure	Incumbent	Notes
fl. x 1114-1131 x	Cormac of Dunkeld
fl. 1138-1139	John of Atholl	Not directly called "Bishop of Dunkeld", just a "bishop from Atholl" who went on mission to Orkney.
fl. x 1147-1169	Gregoir of Dunkeld
1170-1178	Richard of Dunkeld
1178	Walter de Bidun	Never consecrated. Never took possession of see.
1178-1203	John Scotus
1203-1210	Richard de Prebenda
1211-1214	John de Leicester
1214-1229 x 1230	Hugh de Sigillo
1229 x 1230	Matthew the Scot
1229 x 1230-1236	Gilbert of Dunkeld
1236-1249	Geoffrey de Liberatione
1250-1272	Richard de Inverkeithing
1273-1277 x 1282	Robert de Stuteville
1282 x 1283	Hugh de Stirling	Died at Rome pursuing his election.
1283-1285 x 1288	William the Dean
1288-1309	Matthew de Crambeth
1309-1311	John de Leche	Elect; nominee of King Edward II of England; his election was disputed, and he never actually took possession of his see.
1309-1337	William Sinclair
1337 x 1338-1338 x 1342	Maol Choluim de Innerpeffray	A canon from Strathearn; his election was challenged by Richard de Pilmore; conflict was resolved at the Papal court, where the Pope found in Richard's favour.
1337 x 1338-1345 x 1347	Richard de Pilmuir
1347 x 1348	Robert de Den	He was the Archdeacon of Dunkeld, and was elected to the see; however, the Pope was already in the process of appointing a bishop to the vacant see.
1347-1354	Donnchadh de Strathearn
1355-1369	John Luce
1370 x 1371	John de Carrick	Probably failed to obtain consecration.
1370-1377	Michael de Monymusk
1377 x 1378	Andrew Umfray	Had been dean of Dunkeld and precentor; he died at the Papal court.
1378-1390	John de Peebles
1391-1395 x 1398	Robert Sinclair	Translated from Bishopric of Orkney.
1396-1437	Robert de Cardeny
1437 x 1440	Domhnall MacNeachdainn	He was the Dean of Dunkeld; he died in Continental Europe on his way to be consecrated by the Pope.
1437-1440	James Kennedy	Translated to the Bishopric of St. Andrews in April 1440.
1440	Alexander Lauder	He was nominated to the see in May 1440, confirmed the following month, but died in October that year before his consecration.
1440-1460	Thomas Livingston	He was the nomination of the Anti-Pope Felix V; he was probably confirmed by Pope Nicholas V, however he never gained possession of the see. He died sometime before 10 July 1460.
1441-1447	James Bruce	Appointed Bishop of Glasgow in 1447, but died the same year.
1447	William Turnbull	Was elected in March 1447 after the death of Bishop James Bruce; however, he obtained the Bishopric of Glasgow in November that year before being consecrated to Dunkeld.
1447-1451 x 1452	John de Ralston
1452-1475	Thomas Lauder	Former Master of the hospital at Soutra Aisle.
1475-1483	James Livingston	Dean of Dunkeld who succeeded Bishop Thomas Lauder.
1483-1485	Alexander Inglis	Was elected but failed to ensure confirmation by the Pope.
1483-1515	George Brown
1515-1516	Andrew Stewart	Brother of the Earl of Atholl. The Pope refused his nomination to the Bishopric, but did appoint him to the Bishopric of Caithness at Dornoch.
1515-1522	Gavin Douglas	Forfeited December 1521, and fled to England.
1524-1526	Robert Cockburn	Previously Bishop of Ross.
1526-1544	George Crichton
1544-1549	John Hamilton	Previously Abbot of Paisley. Got promoted to the Archbishopric of St Andrews.
1549-1553 x 1554	Donald Campbell
1543/1554-1571	Robert Crichton	Claimed to have been coadjutor to Bishop George Crichton since 1543.

List of post-Reformation bishops

Church of Scotland succession

In 1560 the Church of Scotland broke its ties with Rome.

Roman Catholic succession

The Bishop of Dunkeld is the Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Dunkeld in the Province of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. The diocese covers an area of 9,505 km². The see is in the City of Dundee where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew. The post Reformation diocese was restored by Pope Leo XIII on 4 March 1878. The Right Reverend Andrew McKenzie is the 10th bishop of the diocese since its restoration.