Diocese of Moray
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Moray was one of the most important of the medieval dioceses in Scotland
. It was founded in the early years of the 12th century by David I of Scotland under its first bishop, Gregoir
. These early Moray bishops did not have a fixed seat but took their cathedrals to the culdee centres at Birnie
, Kinneddar
and lastly Spynie.
. It was not until after his death, however, that this was achieved under the episcopate of Bishop Andreas de Moravia
. This transference took place with the authority of Pope Honorius III
and King Alexander II
on 19 July 1224.
who championed the right of the Moray church to retain its property against a ruthless magnate, Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan and called the Wolf of Badenoch. The last of the Roman Catholic bishops was Patrick Hepburn who alienated almost all of the lands pertaining to the church at the time of the Scottish Reformation
.
The diocese covered a large area extending from Huntly in the east, within a few miles of the Knoydart Peninsula in the west and, in the south-west, to the Atlantic Ocean
at an inlet of Loch Linnhe
in Lochaber. It was divided into the four deaneries of Elgin, Inverness
, Strathbogie and Strathspey. Each of these deaneries contained a number of parishes that provided the mensal and prebendal churches for the church.
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 was founded in the early years of the 12th century by David I of Scotland under its first bishop, Gregoir
Gregoir of Moray
Gregoir of Moray [Giric, Gregory] is the first attested Bishop of Moray. His name occur in witness lists in two charters. The first is the witness list appended to a charter of King Alexander I of Scotland defining the legal powers held by Priory of Scone...
. These early Moray bishops did not have a fixed seat but took their cathedrals to the culdee centres at Birnie
Birnie Kirk
Birnie Kirk is a Church of Scotland church situated 4 km south of Elgin, in Moray, northeast Scotland. The church was built c. 1140 and became the first cathedral of the Bishop of Moray. It remained the cathedral church until 1184 when Bishop Simon de Tosny died. His successor Richard de...
, Kinneddar
Kinneddar Castle
Kinneddar Castle in Moray, Scotland was the residence of the bishops of Moray from c.1187 and its first documented incumbent was Bishop Richard . Bishop Archibald enlarged or rebuilt the castle in c. 1280 and it continued to be used by the bishops until the late 14th century...
and lastly Spynie.
Spynie Cathedral
Bishop Bricius de Douglas finally obtained papal permission on 7 April 1206 to fix the cathedral at the Church of the Holy Trinity at Spynie. Authorisation was also granted to create a chapter of eight canons to administer the cathedral. The chapter based its constitution on that of Lincoln Cathedral. It is possible that this decision may have been influenced by the fact that Bricius’ immediate predecessor was Bishop Richard de Lincoln.Elgin Cathedral
Bricius saw that Spynie was too remote from those it sought to serve and, with a need to ensure the safety of the clergy, petitioned the pope to grant the moving of the church to relative safety of ElginElgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
. It was not until after his death, however, that this was achieved under the episcopate of Bishop Andreas de Moravia
Andreas de Moravia
Andreas de Moravia was a 13th century Scottish bishop. He may have been from the "de Moravia" family of Flemish origin who were lords of Duffus and other areas in the Greater Moray region in this period. In the time of Bishop Bricius' episcopate , there was a man called "Andreas" who was rector of...
. This transference took place with the authority of Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
and King Alexander II
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
on 19 July 1224.
Bishops of Moray
Bishop Bricius organised the constitution of the church, but it was Bishop Andreas who increased the number of dignitaries and prebend canons and was responsible for gaining large grants of land from his kinsmen, the powerful de Moravia lords, as well as the king. In the year of his death, Andreas changed the cathedral's constitution to that of Salisbury. Other Bishops made a lasting impact on the diocese and probably the most important of these was Alexander BurAlexander Bur
Alexander Bur 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 people bearing his surname come from in this period...
who championed the right of the Moray church to retain its property against a ruthless magnate, Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan and called the Wolf of Badenoch. The last of the Roman Catholic bishops was Patrick Hepburn who alienated almost all of the lands pertaining to the church at the time of 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...
.
Extent of the diocese
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
at an inlet of Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland....
in Lochaber. It was divided into the four deaneries of Elgin, Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Strathbogie and Strathspey. Each of these deaneries contained a number of parishes that provided the mensal and prebendal churches for the church.
| Deanery | Parishes |
|---|---|
| Elgin | Altyre, Alves, Ardclach, Auldearn, Birnie, Dallas, Dipple, Drainie, Duffus, Dundurkas, Dyke, Edinkillie, Elgin, Essil, Forres, Kinneddar, Lhanbryde, Moy, Ogstoun, Rafford, Rothes, Spynie, St Andrews, Urquhart |
| Inverness | Abertarf, Abriachan, Barevan, Boleskine, Brackla, Conveth, Croy, Dalarossie, Daviot, Dores, Ferneway, Inverness, Kintallirgy, Lunan, Lundichty, Petty, Wardlaw |
| Strathbogie | Aberchirder, Aberlour, Ardintullie, Bellie, Botary, Botriphnie, Drumdelgie, Essie, Gartly, Glass, Huntly, Inverkethney, Keith, Kilreny, Kynnor, Rothymay |
| Strathspey | Abernethy, Advie, Alvie, Cromdale, Duthil, Elchies, Inch, Innerallian, Inveravon, Kincardine, Kingussie, Kirkmichael, Knockando, Laggan, Rothiemurchas |