John Winram
Encyclopedia
John Winram was a 16th century Scottish
priest and ecclesiastical reformer. He was born in 1492, the son of one James Winram of Ratho and his wife Margaret Wilkie. He obtained a Bachelor's Degree
(1515), a Master's Degree
(x 1532) and a Doctorate
(1541) from St Leonard's College, University of St Andrews
.
He had become an Augustinian monastic canon
at St Andrews Cathedral Priory
by 1527, becoming sub-prior by the end of 1535. By then, he was de facto leader of the house, since the commendator-prior was James Stewart
, born only in 1531 and still a minor. In 1553 he was appointed to be Prior of St Serf's Inch, Lochleven.
In his roles at St Andrews and St Serf's Inch, he was able to exert an influence on the national church. He was a keen reformer, but it was not until the Scottish Reformation
came fully into being that he accepted a break with the Roman Catholic Church
. Winram played a leading role in the early organisation of the newly independent Scottish Church, maintaining a high work-load as an administrator into his 80s.
Winram had married Margaret Stewart, the illegitimate daughter of Alexander Stewart, Bishop of Moray
, in 1562. By this marriage he obtained two stepsons, Robert and Andrew. The former suffered from severe disability
, though the latter was healthy and he and Winram had a mutually beneficial relationship until the death of Margaret led to a dispute about her will. The dispute raged through the courts of south-eastern Scotland, and their relationship never recovered. Winram died on September 28, 1582. He was buried in the chapel
of St Leonard's College.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
priest and ecclesiastical reformer. He was born in 1492, the son of one James Winram of Ratho and his wife Margaret Wilkie. He obtained a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
(1515), a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(x 1532) and a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
(1541) from St Leonard's College, University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
.
He had become an Augustinian monastic canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at St Andrews Cathedral Priory
St Andrews Cathedral Priory
St Andrews Cathedral Priory was a priory of Augustinian canons in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Plans were made for its foundation in the reign of Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim , who set aside some land for that purpose. It was finally established by King David I and his son in 1140 with canons from...
by 1527, becoming sub-prior by the end of 1535. By then, he was de facto leader of the house, since the commendator-prior was James Stewart
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray , a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V, was Regent of Scotland for his nephew, the infant King James VI of Scotland, from 1567 until his assassination in 1570...
, born only in 1531 and still a minor. In 1553 he was appointed to be Prior of St Serf's Inch, Lochleven.
In his roles at St Andrews and St Serf's Inch, he was able to exert an influence on the national church. He was a keen reformer, but it was not until 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...
came fully into being that he accepted a break with the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Winram played a leading role in the early organisation of the newly independent Scottish Church, maintaining a high work-load as an administrator into his 80s.
Winram had married Margaret Stewart, the illegitimate daughter of Alexander Stewart, Bishop 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...
, in 1562. By this marriage he obtained two stepsons, Robert and Andrew. The former suffered from severe disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
, though the latter was healthy and he and Winram had a mutually beneficial relationship until the death of Margaret led to a dispute about her will. The dispute raged through the courts of south-eastern Scotland, and their relationship never recovered. Winram died on September 28, 1582. He was buried in the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
of St Leonard's College.