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Roger (Bishop of Ross)
Encyclopedia
Roger was a churchman based in the 14th century Kingdom of Scotland
, and active as Bishop of Ross
from 1325 until 1350. Before attaining this position, Roger was a canon
of Abernethy; it is possible that Roger was an Augustinian, because it is often thought that Abernethy did not become a collegiate church
until some time after 1328, after the marriage of the Abernethy heiress to the Earl of Angus
; this however is not certain, as the exact details of Abernethy's transition from being an Céli Dé abbey (until c. 1272 × 1273) to an Augustinian priory to a secular college are only vaguely understood.
It was as a canon of Abernethy that, on 17 April 1325, he was issued papal provision to the diocese of Ross
, vacant by the death of Thomas de Dundee
. Roger was consecrated by Cardinal
Guillaume Pierre Godin
, Bishop of Sabina, at the papal curia sometime before 19 May. Bishop Roger witnessed several royal charters during his episcopate. He witnessed a charter at Edinburgh
on 4 March 1328; at Arbroath
on 17 June 1341; and at Scone
on 4 July 1342, and another (location not specified) on 4 July 1342. Bishop Roger resigned the bishopric "for reasonable caues" at the papal curia on or sometime before 3 November 1350, when Alexander Stewart
was provided in his place; Roger cannot be traced after that.
Professor Donald Watt
has argued that Roger is the same as Roger de Balnebrich
, unfruitfully elected Bishop of Dunblane
sometime between 1319 and 1322, and who Watt suggests had remained at the papal curia until provided to Ross. Abernethy did lie in the diocese of Dunblane
; Balnebrich held the position of rector
of Forteviot
when he was elected Bishop of Dunblane. The suggestion is strengthened by Balnebrich's disappearance from the records after his failure to obtain Dunblane at the papal curia in March 1322. Unfortunately, as Professor Watt acknowledged, because the scarce evidence has not as yet given Roger, as Bishop of Ross, a surname, and because it has not yielded any direct statement to this effect, it cannot be proven that Roger (Bishop of Ross) and Roger de Balnebrich were one and the same person.
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...
, and active as Bishop of Ross
Bishop of Ross
The Bishop of Ross was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Ross, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The first recorded bishop appears in the late 7th century as a witness to Adomnán of Iona's Cáin Adomnáin. The bishopric was based at the settlement of Rosemarkie until the mid-13th...
from 1325 until 1350. Before attaining this position, Roger was a 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 ....
of Abernethy; it is possible that Roger was an Augustinian, because it is often thought that Abernethy did not become a collegiate church
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
until some time after 1328, after the marriage of the Abernethy heiress to the Earl of Angus
Earl of Angus
The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish province of Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is currently held by the Duke of Hamilton.-Mormaers:...
; this however is not certain, as the exact details of Abernethy's transition from being an Céli Dé abbey (until c. 1272 × 1273) to an Augustinian priory to a secular college are only vaguely understood.
It was as a canon of Abernethy that, on 17 April 1325, he was issued papal provision to the diocese of Ross
Diocese of Ross
The Diocese of Ross was an ecclesiastical territory or diocese in Scotland in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period. The Diocese was led by the Bishop of Ross, and was based at Fortrose. The diocese had only one Archdeacon, the Archdeacon of Ross, first attested in 1223 with the appearance of...
, vacant by the death of Thomas de Dundee
Thomas de Dundee
Thomas de Dundee, also called Thomas Nicholay, was a Scottish prelate who held the bishopric of Ross during the First War of Scottish Independence...
. Roger was consecrated by Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Guillaume Pierre Godin
Guillaume Pierre Godin
Guillaume Pierre Godin was a French Dominican theologian, and Cardinal.-Life:He was born in Bayonne and spent his early years in south-west France. He was an early opponent of Duns Scotus at Paris, where he was briefly in 1292.He was master of the Sacred Palace from 1306...
, Bishop of Sabina, at the papal curia sometime before 19 May. Bishop Roger witnessed several royal charters during his episcopate. He witnessed a charter at Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on 4 March 1328; at Arbroath
Arbroath
Arbroath or Aberbrothock is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the council area of Angus in Scotland, and has a population of 22,785...
on 17 June 1341; and at Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
on 4 July 1342, and another (location not specified) on 4 July 1342. Bishop Roger resigned the bishopric "for reasonable caues" at the papal curia on or sometime before 3 November 1350, when Alexander Stewart
Alexander Stewart (d. 1371)
Alexander Stewart was a 14th century Scottish bishop. Probably from Menteith, he appears in the sources from the first half of 1340s, possessing a university degree and holding the position of Archdeacon of Ross...
was provided in his place; Roger cannot be traced after that.
Professor Donald Watt
D. E. R. Watt
Donald Elmslie Robertson Watt FRSE was a Scottish historian and Professor Emeritus at St Andrews University....
has argued that Roger is the same as Roger de Balnebrich
Roger de Balnebrich
Roger de Balnebrich [de Balnebrech, de Balnebriech, de Ballinbreth] was a 14th century Scottish churchman. Roger received a university education, being styled Magister by August 1313, though it is not known where he took his degree; the degree, however, was almost certainly done in canon law...
, unfruitfully elected 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...
sometime between 1319 and 1322, and who Watt suggests had remained at the papal curia until provided to Ross. Abernethy did lie in the diocese of Dunblane
Diocese of Dunblane
The Diocese of Dunblane or Diocese of Strathearn was one of the thirteen historical dioceses of Scotland, before the abolition of episcopacy in the Scottish Church in 1689. Roughly, it embraced the territories covered by the old earldoms of Strathearn and Menteith. The diocese was founded by the...
; Balnebrich held the position of rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Forteviot
Forteviot
Forteviot is a village in Strathearn, Scotland on the south bank of the River Earn between Dunning and Perth. It lies in the council area of Perth and Kinross...
when he was elected Bishop of Dunblane. The suggestion is strengthened by Balnebrich's disappearance from the records after his failure to obtain Dunblane at the papal curia in March 1322. Unfortunately, as Professor Watt acknowledged, because the scarce evidence has not as yet given Roger, as Bishop of Ross, a surname, and because it has not yielded any direct statement to this effect, it cannot be proven that Roger (Bishop of Ross) and Roger de Balnebrich were one and the same person.