James Wedderburn (bishop)
Encyclopedia
James Wedderburn bishop of Dunblane
, was the second son of John Wedderburn, a mariner and shipowner from Dundee, and Margaret Lindsay. James Wedderburn (1495?–1553), a playwright and early Scottish proponent of Protestantism
, was his grandfather.
He was born at Dundee in 1585, and began his university life at St. Andrews University, matriculating in 1604, and graduating in 1608 with a Master of Arts
; he moved thence to one of the English universities, probably the University of Cambridge
. He was at one time tutor to the children of Isaac Casaubon
, and among the Burney manuscripts in the British Museum there are several letters from him to Casaubon and to his son Meric
, the latter having been Wedderburn's special pupil.
Wedderburn took orders in the Anglican Church, was minister at Harstone in 1615, and was closely associated with William Laud
in the preparation of the liturgy
for the Scottish church. He was professor of divinity
in St Mary's College, St Andrews
, in 1617, and had obtained his degree of D. D.
before January 1623, as at that time, in conjunction with Principal Howie, he introduced the liturgy at the college, in compliance with the orders of the king.
In February 1626 he was appointed rector of Compton, diocese of Winchester
, and was collated canon of Ely
before Christmas 1626. Made D. D.
by the University of Cambridge
in 1627, he was presented by the king to the vicarage of Mildenhall
, diocese of Norwich
, on 12 September 1628. He was appointed prebendary
of Whitchurch
in the bishopric of Bath and Wells on 26 May 1631. He became dean of the Chapel Royal
, Stirling
, in October 1635.
On 11 February 1636 he was preferred to the see of Dunblane, in succession to Adam Bellenden
, promoted to the bishopric of Aberdeen. He must have retained the prebend of Whitchurch, as no successor was appointed until 1 July 1638. When the Glasgow assembly of 13 December 1638 deposed the bishops, Wedderburn was expressly included in the excommunication, because "he had been a confidential agent of Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, in introducing the new liturgy and popish ceremonies".
He fled to England, in company with other Scottish bishops, and found protection from his patron, Archbishop Laud; but he did not long survive his deprivation. He died at Canterbury on 23 September 1639, and was buried in the chapel of the Virgin Mary in the cathedral there
. There is a portrait of the bishop, by Jamieson, at Birkhill, Fife, reproduced in The Wedderburn Book. He was said to have written A Treatise of Reconciliation.
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...
, was the second son of John Wedderburn, a mariner and shipowner from Dundee, and Margaret Lindsay. James Wedderburn (1495?–1553), a playwright and early Scottish proponent of Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, was his grandfather.
He was born at Dundee in 1585, and began his university life at St. Andrews University, matriculating in 1604, and graduating in 1608 with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
; he moved thence to one of the English universities, probably the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He was at one time tutor to the children of Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon was a classical scholar and philologist, first in France and then later in England, regarded by many of his time as the most learned in Europe.-Early life:...
, and among the Burney manuscripts in the British Museum there are several letters from him to Casaubon and to his son Meric
Méric Casaubon
Méric Casaubon , son of Isaac Casaubon, was a French-English classical scholar...
, the latter having been Wedderburn's special pupil.
Wedderburn took orders in the Anglican Church, was minister at Harstone in 1615, and was closely associated with William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
in the preparation of the liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
for the Scottish church. He was professor of divinity
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
in St Mary's College, St Andrews
St Mary's College, St Andrews
St Mary's College of the University of St Andrews, in Fife, Scotland - in full, the New College of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - was founded in 1538 by Archbishop James Beaton, uncle of Cardinal David Beaton on the site of the pedagogy or St Johns College .St Mary's College was...
, in 1617, and had obtained his degree of D. D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
before January 1623, as at that time, in conjunction with Principal Howie, he introduced the liturgy at the college, in compliance with the orders of the king.
In February 1626 he was appointed rector of Compton, diocese of Winchester
Diocese of Winchester
The Diocese of Winchester forms part of the Province of Canterbury of the Church of England.Founded in 676, it is one of the oldest and largest of the dioceses in England.The area of the diocese incorporates:...
, and was collated canon of Ely
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Ely is a cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England, 14 miles north-northeast of Cambridge and about by road from London. It is built on a Lower Greensand island, which at a maximum elevation of is the highest land in the Fens...
before Christmas 1626. Made D. D.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
by the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1627, he was presented by the king to the vicarage of Mildenhall
Mildenhall, Suffolk
Mildenhall is a small market town and civil parish in Suffolk, England. It is run by Forest Heath District Council and has a population of 9,906 people. The town is near the A11 and is located north-west of county town, Ipswich. The large Royal Air Force base, RAF Mildenhall as well as RAF...
, diocese of Norwich
Anglican Diocese of Norwich
The Diocese of Norwich forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.It traces its roots in an unbroken line to the diocese of Dunwich founded in 630. In common with many Anglo-Saxon bishoprics it moved, in this case to Elmham in 673...
, on 12 September 1628. He was appointed prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Whitchurch
Whitchurch, Bristol
Whitchurch is a village in north Somerset, England and an adjoining suburb of south eastern Bristol, bounded by Hartcliffe to the west and Hengrove and Knowle to the north. The suburb was initially developed during the 1930s....
in the bishopric of Bath and Wells on 26 May 1631. He became dean of the Chapel Royal
Dean of the Chapel Royal
Dean of the Chapel Royal, in any kingdom, can be the title of an official charged with oversight of that kingdom's Chapel Royal, the ecclesiastical establishment which is part of the Royal Household and ministers to it.-England:...
, Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, in October 1635.
On 11 February 1636 he was preferred to the see of Dunblane, in succession to Adam Bellenden
Adam Bellenden
Adam Bellenden was a 17th century Scottish churchman.He was the son of Sir John Bellenden of Auchnoul, Lord Justice Clerk, by his spouse Jane, daughter of Walter Seton of Touch....
, promoted to the bishopric of Aberdeen. He must have retained the prebend of Whitchurch, as no successor was appointed until 1 July 1638. When the Glasgow assembly of 13 December 1638 deposed the bishops, Wedderburn was expressly included in the excommunication, because "he had been a confidential agent of Laud, archbishop of Canterbury, in introducing the new liturgy and popish ceremonies".
He fled to England, in company with other Scottish bishops, and found protection from his patron, Archbishop Laud; but he did not long survive his deprivation. He died at Canterbury on 23 September 1639, and was buried in the chapel of the Virgin Mary in the cathedral there
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
. There is a portrait of the bishop, by Jamieson, at Birkhill, Fife, reproduced in The Wedderburn Book. He was said to have written A Treatise of Reconciliation.
See also
- James, John and Robert WedderburnJames, John and Robert WedderburnJames Wedderburn was a Scottish poet, the eldest son of James Wedderburn, merchant of Dundee , and of Janet Barry, sister of John Barry, vicar of Dundee...