Richard the Chaplain was the Chaplain

Chaplain

Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...

 of King Máel Coluim IV

Malcolm IV of Scotland

Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...

 before becoming Bishop of Cell Rígmonaid (St Andrews), the highest ranking Scottish see

Episcopal See

An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...

 of the period. He came from a well connected Anglo-Norman

Anglo-Norman

The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...

 Lothian-based family, and was the nephew of Alwin, Abbot of Holyrood

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...

. Richard was elected to the see in 1163, soon after the death of his predecessor Ernald

Ernald

Ernald was the second Abbot of Kelso before becoming Bishop of Cell Rígmonaid , the highest ranking Scottish see in the period. He was elected to the see on Sunday, St. Brice's Day 1160, and was consecrated at Dunfermline in the presence of King Máel Coluim IV the following Sunday by William,...

, and was consecrated on Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....

 1165 by other Scottish bishops in the presence of the king. He died in 1178 in the infirmary

Hospital

A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....

 the canons

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 ....

 of the church. He was succeeded by John, called "l'Escot" (the Scot).