The Abbot of Paisley was the head of the Cluniac monastic community of Paisley Abbey

Paisley Abbey

Paisley Abbey is a former Cluniac monastery, and current Church of Scotland parish kirk, located on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, in west central Scotland.-History:...

 and its property. The monastery was founded as a priory

Priory

A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...

 at Renfrew

Renfrew

-Local government:The town of Renfrew gave its name to a number of local government areas used at various times:*Renfrew a town to the west of Glasgow*Renfrewshire, the present unitary local council area in which Renfrew is situatated....

 in 1163, but moved to Paisley

Paisley

Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...

 in 1169. It became an abbey

Abbey

An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...

 in 1219. The founder was Walter fitz Alan, Seneschal (Steward) of Scotland

High Steward of Scotland

The title of High Steward or Great Steward was given in the 12th century to Walter Fitzalan, whose descendants became the House of Stewart. In 1371, the last High Steward inherited the throne, and thereafter the title of High Steward of Scotland has been held as a subsidiary title to that of Duke...

. The line of abbots ended when it was turned into a secular lordship for Lord Claud Hamilton in 1587/1592. The following is a list of abbots and commendators:

List of abbots

• ???, 1220
• William, 1225/6 -1238, 1248?
• Stephen, 1272-1285
• Walter, 1296
• A[ ? ], 1301
• Roger, 1318-1325
• John, 1327
• James, 1349
• John, 1362-1370
• John de Lithgow I, 1384-1408 x 1412
• Alan de Govan, 1412
• John de Lychcar, 1412
• William de Cheshelme, 1414
• Roland, 1414-1415
• John de Lithgow II (?Lychcar), 1415-1431 x 1432
• Thomas Morrow, 1418-1444
• Richard Bothwell, 1444-1445
• Thomas de Tarveis, 1445-1459
• Henry Crichton, 1459-1471
• Patrick Graham, 1466-1471
• George Shaw, 1471-1499
• Robert Shaw
  Robert Shaw (bishop)
  Robert Shaw was a Scottish cluniac monk and prelate. A son of the Laird of Sauchie, he became a monk at Paisley Abbey. He was provided as Abbot of Paisley after the resignation of Abbot George Shaw on July 20, 1498. As abbot, he took an active if unimportant role in national affairs, appearing...
  
  , 1498 -1525

List of commendators

• John Hamilton
  John Hamilton (archbishop)
  The Most Rev. Dr. John Hamilton , Scottish prelate and politician, was an illegitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran....
  
  , 1525-1553
• Claude Hamilton
  Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley
  Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley was a Scottish politician. He was a younger son of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran. In 1553, he received the lands of the abbey of Paisley...
  
   , 1553-1587
• Robert Lord Sempill, 1569-1573
• William Erskine, 1581-1584
• Claude Hamilton, 1586-1592 as 1st Lord Paisley