William Falconer (or Falconar) (1707–1784) was a
Scottish clergyman who served as the
Bishop of Moray (1742–1778),
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, styled "The Most Reverend the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church", is the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The current Primus is the Most Revd. Mark Strange who became primus on ...
(1762–1782) and
Bishop of Edinburgh
The Bishop of Edinburgh, or sometimes the Lord Bishop of Edinburgh is the ordinary of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh.
Prior to the Reformation, Edinburgh was part of the Diocese of St Andrews, under the Archbishop of St Andrews ...
(1776–1784).
Life
He was the son of Alexander Falconer, an
Elgin merchant, and Jean King.
His grandfathers were the Right Reverend
Colin Falconer,
Bishop of Argyll
The Bishop of Argyll or Bishop of Lismore was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Argyll
The Diocese of Argyll was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of Scotland in the Middle Ages. The Diocese was led by the Bishop of Argyll, and wa ...
(1679–80) and
Bishop of Moray (1680–86), and William King of Newmill,
Provost of Elgin (1690–1700).
[
After his ]ordination
Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform v ...
on 10 June 1728, he was the Chaplain of Balgowan (1728–35), Minister 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 a ...
(1735–42), and Minister of Elgin (1740–46).
He was appointed coadjutor bishop of Caithness and Orkney and consecrated at Alloa
Alloa (Received Pronunciation ; educated Scottish pronunciation /ˈaloʊa/; gd, Alamhagh, possibly meaning "rock plain") is a town in Clackmannanshire in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It is on the north bank of the Forth at the spot wher ...
on 10 September 1741 by Thomas Rattray, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, styled "The Most Reverend the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church", is the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The current Primus is the Most Revd. Mark Strange who became primus on ...
, with bishops Robert Keith and Robert White serving as co-consecrator
A consecrator is a bishop who ordains someone to the episcopacy. A co-consecrator is someone who assists the consecrator bishop in the act of ordaining a new bishop.
The terms are used in the canon law of the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches ...
s.[
He was elected the Bishop of Moray on 10 November 1742, and accepted the see on 12 January 1743.][ He left Elgin in 1746 and took up residence in ]Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...
.[ He was unanimously elected ]Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, styled "The Most Reverend the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church", is the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The current Primus is the Most Revd. Mark Strange who became primus on ...
at Forfar
Forfar ( sco, Farfar, gd, Baile Fharfair) is the county town of Angus, Scotland and the administrative centre for Angus Council, with a new multi-million pound office complex located on the outskirts of the town. As of 2021, the town has a pop ...
on 24 June 1762, and also became the Bishop of Edinburgh
The Bishop of Edinburgh, or sometimes the Lord Bishop of Edinburgh is the ordinary of the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh.
Prior to the Reformation, Edinburgh was part of the Diocese of St Andrews, under the Archbishop of St Andrews ...
on 25 October 1776.[ He resigned the see of Moray before May 1778 and the office of Primus in September 1782, but retained the see of Edinburgh.][
Bishop Falconer died in office on 15 June 1784, aged 77.][
]
Styles
* 1707–1728: William Falconer, Esquire.
* 1728–1741: The Reverend William Falconer.
* 1741–1762: The Right Reverend William Falconer.
* 1762–1782: The Most Reverend
The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures, primarily within the historic denominations of Christianity, but occasionally in some more modern traditions also. It is a variant of the more common style "The Reverend".
Anglic ...
Willam Falconer.
* 1782–1784: The Right Reverend William Falconer.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falconer, William
1707 births
1784 deaths
Bishops of Moray
Bishops of Edinburgh
Primuses of the Scottish Episcopal Church
18th-century Scottish Episcopalian bishops