Richard de Inverkeithing
Encyclopedia
Richard de Inverkeithing was a 13th century cleric from Scotland
, probably from Inverkeithing
in Fife
. He was a Chamberlain
of King Alexander II of Scotland
and bishop of Dunkeld
.
He was King Alexander's chamberlain in the last year of that king's life. The death of Alexander in 1249 happened to coincide with the death of Galfred de Liberatione
, bishop
of Dunkeld
, in the same year. So instead of falling from a high profile job into obscurity, Richard was elected to the diocese of Dunkeld
sometime in the year 1250. The exact date of his consecration is not known, but we do know that he was consecrated between 2 August 1251 and 2 August 1252. In 1255 Richard was one of the figures chosen to act as guardian to the young Alexander III
, making Richard one of the most important men in the Kingdom of Scotland
. In 1262, Bishop Richard founded Whitefriars' monastery, Perth
, the first friary of the Carmelite Order in Scotland. In 1265 he used his own wealth to build a new choir
in the church of Inchcolm Abbey
(which was part of the diocese of Dunkeld), and the following year moved the bones of previous bishops of Dunkeld into the new choir. Shortly after the Easter
of 1168, along with the bishop of Dunblane
, he attended a church council in the English town of London
, organized by the papal legate
, Ottobone.
He died on 16 April 1272. He was buried in Dunkeld Cathedral
, but his heart was taken to be buried in the new choir at Inchcolm
. The Lanercost Chronicle
(97) alleges that he was poison
ed by King Alexander III with the aim of gaining Richard's movable assets, but this allegation is usually thought to be "credulous gossip". Richard was succeeded by Robert de Stuteville
.
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...
, probably from Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing
Inverkeithing is a town and a royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, located on the Firth of Forth. According to population estimates , the town has a population of 5,265. The port town was given burgh status by King David I of Scotland in the 12th century and is situated about 9 miles north from...
in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
. He was a Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
of King Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II of Scotland
Alexander II was King of Scots from1214 to his death.-Early life:...
and bishop 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...
.
He was King Alexander's chamberlain in the last year of that king's life. The death of Alexander in 1249 happened to coincide with the death of Galfred de Liberatione
Galfred de Liberatione
Galfredus, Galfred or Geoffrey de Liberatione was Bishop of Dunkeld and Bishop-postulate of St Andrews. He was a clerk to King Alexander II of Scotland as early as 1219, as well as being a canon of Dunkeld and precentor of Glasgow. He was elected to the bishopric of Dunkeld in 1236...
, bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Dunkeld
Dunkeld
Dunkeld is a small town in Strathtay, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is about 15 miles north of Perth on the eastern side of the A9 road into the Scottish Highlands and on the opposite side of the Tay from the Victorian village of Birnam. Dunkeld and Birnam share a railway station, on the...
, in the same year. So instead of falling from a high profile job into obscurity, Richard was elected to the diocese of Dunkeld
Diocese of Dunkeld
The Diocese of Dunkeld was one of the 13 historical dioceses of Scotland preceding the abolition of Episcopacy in 1689.-History:It is thought that the diocese was constituted as far back as the middle of the ninth century. The first occupant was styled Bishop of Fortriu, the name by which the...
sometime in the year 1250. The exact date of his consecration is not known, but we do know that he was consecrated between 2 August 1251 and 2 August 1252. In 1255 Richard was one of the figures chosen to act as guardian to the young Alexander III
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
, making Richard one of the most important men in the Kingdom of Scotland
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
. In 1262, Bishop Richard founded Whitefriars' monastery, Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, the first friary of the Carmelite Order in Scotland. In 1265 he used his own wealth to build a new choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
in the church of Inchcolm Abbey
Inchcolm Abbey
Inchcolm Abbey is a medieval abbey located on the island of Inchcolm in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The Abbey, which is located at the centre of the island, was founded in the 12th century during the episcopate of Gregoir, Bishop of Dunkeld. Later tradition placed it back in the reign of King...
(which was part of the diocese of Dunkeld), and the following year moved the bones of previous bishops of Dunkeld into the new choir. Shortly after the Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
of 1168, along with the bishop 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...
, he attended a church council in the English town of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, organized by the papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
, Ottobone.
He died on 16 April 1272. He was buried in Dunkeld Cathedral
Dunkeld Cathedral
Dunkeld Cathedral stands on the north bank of the River Tay in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Built in square-stone style of predominantly grey sandstone, the cathedral proper was begun in 1260 and completed in 1501...
, but his heart was taken to be buried in the new choir at Inchcolm
Inchcolm
Inchcolm is an island in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. Repeatedly attacked by English raiders during the Wars of Scottish Independence, it was fortified during both World Wars to defend nearby Edinburgh...
. The Lanercost Chronicle
Lanercost Chronicle
The Lanercost Chronicle is a northern English and Scottish history covering the years 1201 to 1346. It covers the Wars of Scottish Independence, but it is also highly tangential and as such provides insights into English life in the thirteenth century as well as Scottish life...
(97) alleges that he was poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
ed by King Alexander III with the aim of gaining Richard's movable assets, but this allegation is usually thought to be "credulous gossip". Richard was succeeded by Robert de Stuteville
Robert de Stuteville
Robert de Stuteville was Bishop-elect of St Andrews and Bishop of Dunkeld. Robert was dean of Dunkeld as early as 1253, when he was elected to the bishopric of St Andrews on 28 June that year. Unfortunately for Robert, his election was opposed by the king, at the time, Alexander III, and by the...
.