The Archbishop

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

 of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

is the Ordinary

Ordinary

In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...

 of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh. The archdiocese covers an area of 5,504 km². The Metropolitan see is in the City of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

 where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary.

The Vicariate Apostolic of the Eastern District was elevated to archdiocese status on 14 March 1878 upon the Restoration of the Scottish hierarchy

Restoration of the Scottish hierarchy

The Restoration of the Scottish hierarchy refers to the re-establishment of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland on 15 March 1878...

. The current archbishop is Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien

Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien

Keith Michael Patrick O'Brien is a Scottish Cardinal and the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh of the Roman Catholic Church. O'Brien is currently the only living Cardinal from Scotland....

, the 7th Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh.

List of ordinaries

Prefects of Scotland
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1653	1661	William Ballantine William Ballantine (clergyman) William Ballantine was a Roman Catholic clergyman who became the first Prefect of Scotland....	Ordained to the priesthood Priesthood (Catholic Church) The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....  on 3 December 1645 and appointed Prefect Apostolic prefect An apostolic prefect is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a missionary area where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese....  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...  on 13 October 1653; died in office on 2 September 1661.
1662	1693	Alexander Dunbar Winchester Alexander Dunbar Winchester Alexander Dunbar Winchester was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Prefect of Scotland....	Ordained to the priesthood Priesthood (Catholic Church) The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....  on 21 May 1656 and appointed Prefect Apostolic prefect An apostolic prefect is a priest who heads what is known as an apostolic prefecture, a missionary area where the Catholic Church is not yet sufficiently developed to have it made a diocese....  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...  on 12 June 1662; resigned in 1668; reappointed in 1672; resigned again on July 1693; died on 14 January 1708; also known as Alexander Winster.
Vicars Apostolic of Scotland
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1694	1718	Thomas Joseph Nicolson Thomas Joseph Nicolson Thomas Joseph Nicolson was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of Scotland.Born in Birkenbog, Banffshire in 1645, He was converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1682. He was ordained a priest on 9 March 1686. He was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Scotland and Titular...	Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Scotland and Titular Bishop of Peristasis on 7 September 1694; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 27 February 1695; died in office on 12 October 1718.
1718	1727	James Gordon James Gordon (bishop) James Gordon was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic for the whole of Scotland from 1718 to 1727, then the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District from 1727 to 1746....	Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Scotland and Titular Bishop of Nicopolis ad Iaterum on 21 August 1705; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 11 April 1706; succeeded Vicar Apostolic of Scotland on 12 October 1718; appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District on 23 July 1727.
Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1727	1746	James Gordon James Gordon (bishop) James Gordon was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic for the whole of Scotland from 1718 to 1727, then the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District from 1727 to 1746....	Hitherto Vicar Apostolic of Scotland; appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District on 23 July 1727; died in office on 18 February 1746
1746	1767	Alexander Smith Alexander Smith (bishop) Alexander Smith was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District, Scotland.-Life:Born in Fochabers, Moray in 1694, he was ordained a priest on 19 April 1712. He was appointed the Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District and Titular Bishop of...	Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District and Titular Bishop of Mosynopolis on 19 September 1735; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 2 November 1735; succeeded Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District on 18 February 1746; died in office on 21 August 1767.
1767	1778	James Grant James Grant (bishop) James Grant was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District, Scotland.Born in Wester Boggs, Enzie, Banffshire in July 1706, he was ordained a priest on 4 April 1733...	Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District and Titular Bishop of Sinitis on 21 February 1755; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 13 November 1755; succeeded Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District on 21 August 1767; died in office on 3 December 1778.
1778	1805	George Hay George Hay (bishop) George Hay was a Roman Catholic bishop and writer who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District in Scotland from 1778 to 1805....	Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District and Titular Bishop of Daulia on 5 October 1768; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 21 May 1769; succeeded Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District on 3 December 1778; retired on 24 August 1805; died on 15 October 1811.
1805	1825	Alexander Cameron Alexander Cameron (bishop) Alexander Cameron was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District, Scotland.Born in Braemar, Aberdeenshire on 28 July 1747, he was the son of James Cameron and Margery Macktinosh. He entered the Scots College in Rome on 22 December 1764, and took the oath...	Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District and Titular Bishop of Maximianopolis in Palaestina on 19 September 1797; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 28 October 1798; succeeded Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District on 24 August 1805; retired on 20 August 1825; died on 7 February 1828.
1825	1827	Alexander Paterson Alexander Paterson (bishop) Alexander Paterson was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District from 1825 to 1827, then, following district name change, Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District from 1827 to 1831....	Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District and Titular Bishop of Cybistra on 14 May 1816; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 18 August 1816; succeeded Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District on 20 August 1825; became Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District on 13 February 1827.
Vicars Apostolic of the Eastern District
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1827	1831	Alexander Paterson Alexander Paterson (bishop) Alexander Paterson was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District from 1825 to 1827, then, following district name change, Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District from 1827 to 1831....	Hitherto Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District; appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District on 13 February 1827; died in office on 30 October 1831
1832	1852	Andrew Carruthers Andrew Carruthers Andrew Carruthers was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District of Scotland.Born in Drumillan Miln on 7 February 1770, he was ordained a priest on 25 March 1795. He was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District and Titular Bishop of Ceramus by...	Appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District and Titular Bishop of Ceramus on 28 September 1832; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 13 January 1833; died in office on 24 May 1852.
1852	1864	James Gillis James Gillis (bishop) James Gillis was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District of Scotland.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on 7 April 1802, he was ordained a priest on 9 June 1827...	Appointed Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District and Titular Bishop of Limyra on 28 July 1837; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 22 July 1838; succeeded Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District on 24 May 1852; died in office on 24 February 1864.
1864	1878	John Menzies Strain John Menzies Strain John Menzies Strain was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the first Archbishop of the Metropolitan see of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland.-Early life:...	Appointed Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District and Titular Bishop of Abila Lysaniae on 2 September 1864; ordained bishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 25 September 1864; appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on 15 March 1878.
Archbishops of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh
From	Until	Incumbent	Notes
1878	1883	John Menzies Strain John Menzies Strain John Menzies Strain was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the first Archbishop of the Metropolitan see of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland.-Early life:...	Hitherto Vicar Apostolic of the Eastern District and Titular Bishop of Abila Lysaniae; appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on 15 March 1878; died in office on 2 July 1883
1885	1892	William Smith William Smith (archbishop) William Smith was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland....	Appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on 2 October 1885; ordained archbishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 28 October 1885; died in office on 16 March 1892.
1892	1900	Angus MacDonald Angus MacDonald (archbishop) Angus MacDonald was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the third Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland from 1892 to 1900.-Early life:...	Translated Translation (ecclesiastical) Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...  from Argyll and the Isles Bishop of Argyll and the Isles The Bishop of Argyll and the Isles can refer to two overlapping dioceses belonging to different church organizations:*Bishop of Argyll and the Isles *Bishop of Argyll and The Isles -See also:*Bishop of Argyll*Bishop of the Isles... ; appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on 15 July 1892; died in office on 29 April 1900.
1900	1928	James August Smith James August Smith James August Smith was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in Scotland from 1900 to 1928....	Translated Translation (ecclesiastical) Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...  from Dunkeld Bishop of Dunkeld The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the 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... ; appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on 30 August 1900; died in office on 25 November 1928.
1929	1950	Andrew Thomas McDonald Andrew Thomas McDonald Andrew Thomas McDonald, O.S.B., was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland.... , O.S.B.	Appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on 19 July 1929; ordained archbishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 24 September 1929; died in office on 22 May 1950.
1951	1985	Gordon Joseph Gray	Appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on 20 June 1951; ordained archbishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....  on 21 September 1951; created Cardinal-Priest of S. Chiara a Vigna Clara on 28 April 1969; retired on 30 May 1985; died on 19 July 1993.
1985	Present	Keith Michael Patrick O’Brien	Appointed Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh on 30 May 1985; ordained archbishop Bishop (Catholic Church) In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church.... on 5 August 1985; also Apostolic Administrator of Argyll and the Isles from June 1996 to October 1999; created Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Gioacchino ed Anna al Tuscolano on 21 October 2003.