The Bishop of Orkney was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese

Diocese

A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...

 of Orkney, one of thirteen medieval bishoprics within the territory of modern 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...

. It included both Orkney and Shetland. It was based for almost all of its history at St. Magnus' Cathedral

St. Magnus' Cathedral, Kirkwall

St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall dominates the skyline of Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is the most northerly cathedral in the British Isles, a fine example of Romanesque architecture built for the bishops of Orkney when the...

, Kirkwall

Kirkwall

Kirkwall is the biggest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty...

.

The bishopric appears to have been suffragan of the Archbishop of York

Archbishop of York

The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...

 (with intermittent control exercised by the Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen

Archbishopric of Bremen

The Archdiocese of Bremen was a historical Roman Catholic diocese and formed from 1180 to 1648 an ecclesiastical state , named Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen within the Holy Roman Empire...

) until the creation of the Archbishopric of Trondheim (Niðaros

Trondheim

Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...

) in 1152. Although Orkney itself did not become politically part of Scotland until 1468, the Scottish kings and political community had been pushing for control of the islands for centuries. The see, however, remained under the nominal control of Trondheim until the creation of the Archbishopric of St. Andrews in 1472, when it became for the first time an officially Scottish bishopric. The Bishopric's links with Rome ceased to exist after the Scottish Reformation

Scottish Reformation

The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...

. The bishopric continued, saving temporary abolition between 1638 and 1661, under the episcopal Church of Scotland

Church of Scotland

The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....

 until the Revolution of 1688. Episcopacy in the established church in Scotland was permanently abolished in 1689, but in 1878 the Catholic Church re-established the bishopric system, and Orkney came under the resurrected and reformatted Diocese of Aberdeen

Diocese of Aberdeen

Diocese of Aberdeen was one of the 13 dioceses of the Scottish church, before the abolition of the episcopacy in 1689.-Early history:...

. A Scottish Episcopal Church

Scottish Episcopal Church

The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....

 bishopric encompassing Orkney was created in 1865, as the Bishopric of Aberdeen and Orkney.

List of known bishops of Orkney

Tenure	Incumbent	Notes
x 1035 (?)	Henry of Lund Henry of Lund Henry was an 11th century bishop and Christian missionary. He was probably the keeper of the treasury of King Canute the Great in England. Sometime before the year 1035, according to Adam of Bremen, Henry went to Orkney as bishop. As Bishop of Orkney, he was probably more of a missionary bishop,...	Keeper of the treasury of King Cnut; probably the latter's appointee. Name unusual for an Englishman; may have been a German or a Frenchman.
fl. 1043 x 1072	Thorulf of Orkney Thorulf of Orkney Thorulf or Torulf was medieval prelate, a Bishop of Orkney. Although probably a native Scandinavian, he is known only from the account of the German writer Adam of Bremen. Adam reported that he was appointed bishop by Adalbert, Archbishop of Hamburg, the first Orcadian appointee under Hamburg...	Sent as bishop by Archbishop Adalbert of Hamburg Adalbert of Hamburg This article is about Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen. For other uses, see Adalbert .Adalbert of Hamburg-Bremen was a German prelate, who was Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen from 1043 until his death... .
fl. 1043 x 1072	John John I (Bishop of Orkney) John was an 11th-century prelate. According to the Saxon writer Adam of Bremen, historian of the archbishops of Hamburg, John was sent to Orkney by Adalbert, Archbishop of Hamburg, to succeed Thorulf as Bishop of Orkney... (elder)	Appointee of the Archbishop of Bremen. Perhaps the same as Johannes Scotus, bishop of Glasgow.
fl. 1043 x 1072	Adalbert Adalbert (Bishop of Orkney) Adalbert was an 11th-century prelate. Having been consecrated elsewhere, he is said by the Saxon writer Adam of Bremen to have been sent to become Bishop of Orkney by his namesake, Adalbert, Archbishop of Hamburg...	Sent as bishop to Iceland, Greenland and Orkney, by Adalbert, Archbishop of Hamburg.
fl. 1073	Radulf
fl. 1100 x 1108	Roger
1109 x 1114-1147	Radulf Novell Radulf Novell Radulf Novell was a 12th century Anglo-Norman prelate. He was a native of York, and according to writings produced by the Archbishopric of York, was elected as Bishop of Orkney at St Peter's church in York by some representatives of the community of Orkney....	He was consecrated by Thomas Thomas II of York Thomas was a medieval archbishop of York. To distinguish him from his uncle, also a Thomas who was archbishop of York, Thomas is usually known as Thomas II or Thomas the Younger.-Life:... , Archbishop of York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... . There is no evidence that Radulf ever took possession of his see, nor that he ever visited Orkney. Subordinate of the Archbishop of York Archbishop of York The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man... . Served as the vicar of the Bishop of Durham.
c. 1112-1168	William the Old William the Old William the Old [William Senex] was a 12th century prelate who became one of the most famous bishops of Orkney. Although his origins are obscure in detail, William was said to have been a "clerk of Paris". Saga tradition had it that William had been bishop for 66 years when he died in 1168, meaning... (I)
1168-1188	William (II)
1188 x 1194-1223	Bjarni Kolbeinsson Skald
1223 x 1224-1246	Jofreyrr	Jofreyrr is Godfrey.
1247-1269	Henry/Hervi
1270-1284	Peter
1286-1309	Dolgfinnr
1309-1339 x 1440	William (III)
x 1369-1382 x 1383	William (IV)
el. 1382 (?); prov. 1384	John (younger)	The Roman bishop. He was elected by the cathedral chapter. His election was declared null and void by Pope Urban VI Pope Urban VI Pope Urban VI , born Bartolomeo Prignano, was Pope from 1378 to 1389.-Biography:Born in Itri, he was a devout monk and learned casuist, trained at Avignon. On March 21, 1364, he was consecrated Archbishop of Acerenza in the Kingdom of Naples... , but the latter provided him to the see in 1384. Pope Boniface IX Pope Boniface IX Pope Boniface IX , born Piero Tomacelli, was the second Roman Pope of the Western Schism from November 2, 1389, until October 1, 1404...  translated him to the Bishopric of Greenland.
1383-1391	Robert Sinclair	The Avignon bishop, in contrast to John, the candidate of the Roman Pope. The doubling of bishops was a product of the Western Schism Western Schism The Western Schism or Papal Schism was a split within the Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417. Two men simultaneously claimed to be the true pope. Driven by politics rather than any theological disagreement, the schism was ended by the Council of Constance . The simultaneous claims to the papal chair... . His election drew hesitancy from the Avignon Pope Clement VII, but had been confirmed by January 27th, 1384. He was translated to the Bishopric of 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...  sometime before March, 1391.
1394	Henry (II or III)	Second Roman bishop. Previously Bishop of Greenland Greenland Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for... , he exchanged bishoprics with Bishop John.
1396-1397 x 1418	John Pak of Colchester	The third Roman bishop of the Western Schism. He had been a monk of Colchester Colchester Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the... . He appears as "Johannes Anglus, bishop of Orkney" in the Union Treaty of Kalmar Treaty of Kalmar The Treaty of Kalmar was signed on 25 September 1397 between representatives of the three Nordic kingdoms of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. The accord established the Kalmar Union whereby all three realms were to be ruled by one monarch. However, the treaty did not unite the different legal... .
1398 x 1407-1414	Alexander Vaus Alexander Vaus Alexander Vaus [Vause, de Vaus] was a late 14th century and 15th century Scottish prelate. Said to have been the younger son of one Patrick Vaus , he apparently held "church livings" in Galloway as early as 1421....	Second Avignon bishop. Provided by Pope Benedict XIII, but was not consecrated within the canonical time. He was translated to the Bishopric of Caithness Bishop of Caithness The Bishop of Caithness was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Caithness, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first referenced bishop of Caithness was Aindréas, a Gael who appears in sources between 1146 and 1151 as bishop. Aindréas spent much if not all of his career outside his...  in 1414.
1415-1419	William Stephani William Stephani William Stephen, sometimes William Stephani [probably Stephenson], was a medieval prelate based in Scotland, who became Bishop of Orkney and then Bishop of Dunblane. A reader in divinity at the University of St Andrews at its first establishment, he was provided by Avignon Pope Benedict XIII as...	Third Avignon bishop, provided by Pope Benedict XIII. He was translated to the Bishopric of Dunblane Bishop of Dunblane The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane/Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scotland. The bishopric itself certainly derives from an older...  in 1419.
1418-1461	Thomas Tulloch Thomas Tulloch (Bishop of Orkney) Thomas de Tulloch was a 15th century Scottish prelate. A native of Angus, of the Tullochs of Bonington near Forfar, he was presbyter of the diocese of Brechin until on 19 August 1418, he was provided as Bishop of Orkney by Pope Martin V...	Fourth Roman bishop. He was accepted by both sides after the recognition of the "Roman" Popes by the Scottish king.
1461-1477	William Tulloch William Tulloch William de Tulloch was a 15th century Scottish prelate. A native of Angus, he became a canon of Orkney, almost certainly brought there by his relative Thomas de Tulloch, Bishop of Orkney. He was provided to the bishopric upon the resignation of his cousin by Pope Pius II at the Apostolic see on 11...
1477-1503 x 1506	Andrew Pictoris	It is not known what Andrew's surname was. Scottish historians have assumed, wrongly, that he was a Scot called Painter. Andrew was German, and his illegitimate son was called Henry Phankouth.
1503 x 1506-1524 x 1525	Edward Stewart	Coadjutor since 1498 x 1500.
1523-1525 x 1526	John Benston
1526-1540 x 1541	Robert Maxwell
1541-1558	Robert Reid Robert Reid (bishop) Robert Reid was abbot of Kinloss, commendator-prior of Beauly, and bishop of Orkney. He was one of the greatest of the bishops of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Scotland, and his legacy was the founding of the University of Edinburgh....	O. Cist.
1559-1593	Adam Bothwell	He became a Protestant, and in 1568 exchanged the temporalities of the see (which went to Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Orkney Robert Stewart, Knt., 1st Earl of Orkney and Lord of Zetland was a recognized illegitimate son of James V, King of Scotland, and his mistress Eupheme Elphinstone.... ) for Holyrood Abbey Holyrood Abbey Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded... . He died in 1593, still styling himself "Bischop of Orkney, Commendatair of Halyrudhous". He was an uncle of the mathematician John Napier John Napier John Napier of Merchiston – also signed as Neper, Nepair – named Marvellous Merchiston, was a Scottish mathematician, physicist, astronomer & astrologer, and also the 8th Laird of Merchistoun. He was the son of Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston. John Napier is most renowned as the discoverer... .
1605-1615	James Law James Law James Law was Archbishop of Glasgow. Entering the church after graduation from university, he rose to the position of Bishop of Orkney, reorganising the diocese, before rising to hold the position of Archbishop of Glasgow....	Became Archbishop of Glasgow Archbishop of Glasgow The Bishop of Glasgow, from 1492 Archbishop of Glasgow, was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Glasgow and then, as Archbishop of Glasgow, the Archdiocese of Glasgow... .
1615-1638	George Graham George Graham (bishop) George Graeme , Bishop of Dunblane and Bishop of Orkney, was a late sixteenth- and early seventeenth century Church of Scotland prelate. He was the younger son of George Graeme of Inchbrakie and Marion/Mary Rollo, daughter of Rollo of Duncrub...	Translated from Bishopric of Dunblane Bishop of Dunblane The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane/Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scotland. The bishopric itself certainly derives from an older... .
1662-1663	Thomas Sydserf Thomas Sydserf Thomas Sydserf [Sydserff] was a 17th century Scottish prelate. The eldest son of an Edinburgh merchant, Sydserf graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1602 before travelling to continental Europe to study at the University of Heidelberg. After returning to Scotland, he entered the...	Translated from Bishopric of Galloway Bishop of Galloway The Bishop of Galloway, also called the Bishop of Whithorn, was the eccesiastical head of the Diocese of Galloway, said to have been founded by Saint Ninian in the mid-5th century. The subsequent Anglo-Saxon bishopric was founded in the late 7th century or early 8th century, and the first known... . Between 1638 and the Restoration, Episcopacy in Scotland was temporarily abolished.
1664-1676	Andrew Honyman
1677-1688	Murdoch MacKenzie Murdoch MacKenzie Murdoch MacKenzie was a 17th century Scottish minister and prelate. Born around 1600, his family was an offshoot of the kin of the earls of Seaforth. After being ordained by John Maxwell, Bishop of Ross, he served as a chaplain in a regiment of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden during the Thirty...	Translated from the Bishopric of Moray 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... .
1688	Andrew Bruce Andrew Bruce (bishop) Dr. Andrew Bruce was a 17th century Scottish churchman. He was made Bishop of Dunkeld in 1679, but was deprived of the bishopric in 1686 for disapproving of certain newly enacted laws...	Episcopacy abolished in Scotland. Bruce died in 1700.