The Archdeacon of Moray was the only

archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denominations, above that o ...

in the

Diocese of Moray The Diocese of Moray was one of the most important of the medieval dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland. Its territory was in central northern Scotland. History It was founded in the early years of the 12th century by David I ...

, acting as a deputy of the

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. If the foundation charter of the monastery at Scone is reliable, then the Bishopric of Moray ...

. The archdeacon held the

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

es of

Forres Forres (; gd, Farrais) is a town and former royal burgh in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast, approximately northeast of Inverness and west of Elgin. Forres has been a winner of the Scotland in Bloom award on several occasions. There ...

and Edinkillie as a

prebend A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the ...

s since 1207. The following is a list of known historical archdeacons:

List of archdeacons of Moray

* Thomas, fl. 1179 x 1188 * Robert, fl. 1197 x 1206 *

Gilbert de Moravia Gilbert de Moravia (died 1245), later known as Saint Gilbert of Dornoch, or Gilbert of Caithness, was the most famous Bishop of Caithness and founder of Dornoch Cathedral. His name may suggest that he came from the semi-Gaelicized family of Fl ...

, 1206 x 1208-1222 x 1224 * Hugh, x 1225-1227 x * Ranulf, x 1228-1232 x * William, 1235-1249 x * Archibald Herok, x 1258-1275 * John, fl. 1281 x 1299 *

Stephen de Donydouer Stephen de Dunnideer ''Donydouer, Donydoir, Dundore, Dundemore, Dunsmore (died 1317) was a 14th-century bishop-elect of Glasgow. He was elected by the canons of the see of Glasgow either in December 1316 or early 1317. After election, he travell ...

, x 1316-1317 * Adam Penny, fl. 1327 *

Alexander Bur Alexander Bur (died 1397) 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 peopl ...

, 1350-1362 * William de Forres, 1363-1370 * Stephen, fl. 1371 * Duncan Petit, x 1385-1385 x 1393 * Hugh Dickson de Dalmahoy, 1393-1394 x * James de Dunbar, 1397-1408 * Adam de Nairn, 1408-1409x1414 * William de Camera, 1408-x 1430 * John de Forbes, x 1430 * 1430-1435 * William de Dunbar, 1430-1435 * Nicholas de Atholl, 1430-1435 ** Robert de Crannach, 1430-1433 ** Robert Scrymgeour, 1435 * Henry Hervy, 1435-1438 x 1440 * John de Atholl, 1435-1437 * Duncan de Lichton, 1437 * David Ogilvie, 1438 x 1440-1443 x 1444 * Robert de Tulloch, 1443 *

Thomas Spens Thomas Spens ''de Spens(c. 1415–15 April 1480), Scottish statesman and prelate, received his education at Edinburgh, was the second son of John de Spens, custodian of Prince James of Scotland, and of Lady Isabel Wemyss. Biography By ...

, 1444-1447 x 1448Became Archdeacon of Galloway, then Bishop of Galloway, then later Bishop of Aberdeen. * Patrick Fraser, 1445-1448 x 1462 * Archibald Whitelaw, 1462 x 1463-1466 x 1467 * Thomas Cockburn, 1462 * Archibald Knowles, 1467-1473 x 1475 * Robert de Forrest, 1467-1467 x 1468 * Alexander de Meldrum, 1467-1467 x 1468 * Andrew of Forfar, 1468 * John Edwardi (?Edwardson), 1468 * John Garden, 1475-1479 * John Calder, 1476 * John Ruch, 1476 * James Allardice, 1476-1506 x x1507 * Alexander Crichton, x 1508 * John Estoun, 1508 *

Patrick Paniter Patrick Paniter (born c. 1470 - 1519) Scottish churchman and principal secretary to James IV of Scotland and the infant James V. The surname is usually written ''Paniter'', or ''Painter'', or occasionally ''Panter''. Life Paniter was born around ...

, 1509-1513 * Thomas Nudry, 1510-1526 x 1527 * James Douglas, 1527-1533 ** Alexander Hervy, 1529 ** Sixtus Zuchellus, 1529-1530 * John Bellenden, 1533-1538 * Archibald Dunbar, 1539-1551 x 1565 *

John Lesley John Lesley (or Leslie) (29 September 1527 – 31 May 1596) was a Scottish Roman Catholic bishop and historian. His father was Gavin Lesley, rector of Kingussie, Badenoch. Early career He was educated at the University of Aberdeen, where he ...

, 1565-1567 * Gavin Dunbar, 1574-1613 * Patrick Tulloch, 1613-1638

Notes

Bibliography

* Watt, D.E.R., ''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638'', 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969), pp. 237–42

List of archdeacons of Moray

Notes

Bibliography

See also