William Skinner
Encyclopedia
William Skinner was bishop of Aberdeen in the Scottish Episcopal Church
.
(1744–1816), bishop of St. Andrews, was born at Aberdeen
on October 24, 1778, and educated at Marischal College
, University of Aberdeen
and at Oxford
, where he matriculated from Wadham College on 3 March 1798, graduating B.A.
in 1801, and M.A., B.D.
, and D.D.
in 1819. William Stevens
, the friend of Bishop Horne, and Jones of Nayland
defrayed part of his university expenses.
of St. Asaph's
in March 1802. Returning to Scotland
, he officiated as assistant, and afterwards as colleague, to his father in the incumbency of St. Andrew's Church, Aberdeen. On September 11, 1816 he was elected by the clergy of the diocese as successor to his father in the see of Aberdeen
, and was consecrated at Stirling
on October 27. George Gleig
, primus of the church
, sent a severe but fruitless reproof to the dean and clergy of Aberdeen for electing the son of their late bishop.
on 18 June 1828 to revise the canons
of 1811; thirty canons were adopted and duly signed on 20 June. In 1832 he confirmed as many as four hundred and sixty-two persons, and a first effort was made in the same year to circulate religious works in the Gaelic language. On August 29, 1838 he attended another synod held in St. Paul's Church
, Edinburgh
, when the canons were again revised. Upon the death of Bishop James Walker, Skinner was unanimously elected primus by an episcopal synod held in St. Andrew's Church, Aberdeen
, on 2 June 1841. During his rule Glenalmond College
, near Perth
, was founded in 1844, and developed by the episcopalians in Scotland, as a place of education for young men studying for the church.
In the previous year a serious controversy had sprung out of the refusal of Sir William Dunbar, minister of St. Paul's Chapel, Aberdeen, to receive or to administer the sacrament in accordance with the Scottish ritual. Acting with the concurrence of his synod, Skinner excommunicated Dunbar on August 13, 1843. The bishop was - according to the Dictionary of National Biography
- assiduous and exemplary in the discharge of his duties, and did much during his primacy to consolidate the episcopal party in Scotland.
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
.
Biography
Skinner, second son of John SkinnerJohn Skinner (bishop)
John Skinner was the son of John Skinner and a bishop of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the late 18th century. Made coadjutor of Aberdeen on 25 September 1782, Skinner was one of the three bishops to consecrate Samuel Seabury, an American Episcopal priest...
(1744–1816), bishop of St. Andrews, was born at Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
on October 24, 1778, and educated at Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
, University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
and at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, where he matriculated from Wadham College on 3 March 1798, graduating B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1801, and M.A., B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
, and 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....
in 1819. William Stevens
William Stevens (writer)
William Stevens was an English hosier and lay writer on religious topics from a High Church perspective, the biographer and editor of the works of William Jones of Nayland.-Life:...
, the friend of Bishop Horne, and Jones of Nayland
William Jones (ecclesiastic)
William Jones , known as William Jones of Nayland, was a British clergyman and author.-Life:He was born at Lowick, Northamptonshire, but was descended from an old Welsh family. One of his ancestors was Colonel John Jones, brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell. He was educated at Charterhouse School...
defrayed part of his university expenses.
Ordination & consecration
Skinner was ordained by Bishop Samuel HorsleySamuel Horsley
Samuel Horsley was a British churchman, bishop of Rochester from 1792.Entering Trinity Hall, Cambridge in 1751, he became LL.B. in 1758 without graduating in arts. In the following year he succeeded his father in the living of Newington Butts in Surrey...
of St. Asaph's
Diocese of St Asaph
The Diocese of Saint Asaph is a diocese in north-east Wales, named after Saint Asaph, its second bishop.-Geography:The Anglican Diocese of St Asaph in the north-east corner of Wales stretches from the borders of Chester in the east, to the Conwy valley in the west, to Bala in the south-west, and...
in March 1802. Returning to Scotland
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...
, he officiated as assistant, and afterwards as colleague, to his father in the incumbency of St. Andrew's Church, Aberdeen. On September 11, 1816 he was elected by the clergy of the diocese as successor to his father in the see of Aberdeen
Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney
The Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney is one of the seven dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church. In mainland Scotland, the diocese covers the City of Aberdeen and most of Aberdeenshire...
, and was consecrated at 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...
on October 27. George Gleig
George Gleig
George Gleig was a Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.He was born at Boghall, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of a farmer. At the age of thirteen he entered King's College, University of Aberdeen, where the first prize in mathematics and physical and moral sciences fell to him...
, primus of the church
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
The Primus, styled The Most Reverend the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, is the presiding bishop of the Scottish Episcopal Church. The current Primus is the Most Revd David Chillingworth who became Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church on 13 June 2009...
, sent a severe but fruitless reproof to the dean and clergy of Aberdeen for electing the son of their late bishop.
Elected primus
Skinner was one of the bishops who attended the synod held at LaurencekirkLaurencekirk
Laurencekirk is a small town in the ancient county of Kincardineshire, modern county of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, just off the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen main road. It is the largest settlement in the Howe o' the Mearns area and houses the local secondary school; Mearns Academy, which was awarded the...
on 18 June 1828 to revise the canons
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
of 1811; thirty canons were adopted and duly signed on 20 June. In 1832 he confirmed as many as four hundred and sixty-two persons, and a first effort was made in the same year to circulate religious works in the Gaelic language. On August 29, 1838 he attended another synod held in St. Paul's Church
Old Saint Paul's, Edinburgh
Old Saint Paul's is an historic church of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town in Scotland. It stands on the site of the original home of the separate Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the Anglican Communion, which evolved with the adoption of the Presbyterian...
, 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...
, when the canons were again revised. Upon the death of Bishop James Walker, Skinner was unanimously elected primus by an episcopal synod held in St. Andrew's Church, Aberdeen
St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen
St Andrew's Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church situated in the Scottish city of Aberdeen...
, on 2 June 1841. During his rule Glenalmond College
Glenalmond College
Glenalmond College is a co-educational independent boarding school in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, for children aged between 12 and 18 years. It is situated on the River Almond near the village of Methven, about west of the city of Perth. The school's motto is Floreat Glenalmond...
, near 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...
, was founded in 1844, and developed by the episcopalians in Scotland, as a place of education for young men studying for the church.
In the previous year a serious controversy had sprung out of the refusal of Sir William Dunbar, minister of St. Paul's Chapel, Aberdeen, to receive or to administer the sacrament in accordance with the Scottish ritual. Acting with the concurrence of his synod, Skinner excommunicated Dunbar on August 13, 1843. The bishop was - according to the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
- assiduous and exemplary in the discharge of his duties, and did much during his primacy to consolidate the episcopal party in Scotland.