The Prior, then Abbot and then Commendator of Dunfermline was the head of the Benedictine monastic community of Dunfermline Abbey, Fife, Scotland. The abbey itself was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland, but was of earlier origin. King Máel Coluim mac Donnchada ("Malcolm III") had founded a church there with the help of Benedictines from Canterbury. Monks had been sent there in the reign of Étgar mac Maíl Choluim (Edgar, 1097–1107) and Anselm had sent a letter requesting that Étgar's brother and successor King Alaxandair mac Maíl Coluim (Alexander I, 1107–1124) protect these monks. By 1120, when Alaxandair sent a delegation to Canterbury to secure Eadmer for the bishopric of St Andrews, there is a Prior of the Dunfermline monks by the name of Peter leading the delegation. Control of the abbey was secularized in the 16th century and after the accession of James Stewart in 1500, the abbey was held by commendators. In the second half of the 16th century, the abbey's lands were being carved up into lordships and it was finally annexed to the crown in July, 1593.
List of Priors Peter, 1120 Richard Mongal, 1133-1148
List of Abbots Geoffrey I, 1148–1154 Geoffrey II, 1154–1178 Archibald, 1178–1198 Robert de Berwick, 1198–1202 Patrick, 1202–1217x1223 William I, 1223 William II, 1223 x 1226–1238 Geoffrey III, 1238–1240 Robert de Keldeleth, 1240–1252Resigned to become a Cistercian, and moved to Newbattle Abbey; later became Abbot of Melrose (1269–73). John, 1252–1256 Matthew, 1256 Simon, 1267–1275 Radulf de Greenlaw, 1275–1296 Hugh, 1304x1306-1313 Robert de Crail, 1314–1328 Alexander Ber, c. 1328-9-1350 x 1351 John Black, 1351 John de Stramiglot, 1351–1383x1388 William de Angus, 1383 John de Torry, 1388–1409 William de St Andrews (Anderston),Had previously been Prior of Urquhart. 1413–1426 Robert de Scotland, 1418–1419 William Brown, 1427 Andrew de Kirkcaldy, 1427–1444 Richard de Bothwell,Had been Abbot of Paisley (1444–1445). 1444–1468 Alexander Thomson, c. 1470 Henry Crichton,Had been Abbot of Paisley (1459–1471). 1471–1482 Adam Cant, 1483–1490 George Crichton, 1490–1500After the death of Adam Cant, many figures emerged as potential abbots. It took Crichton until 1496 to get recognition from the pope for his office. Opposed by Raphael Riario, 1491–1492 Opposed by Robert Swinton, 1492 Opposed by Thomas Cranston,Was Abbot of Jedburgh 1484–1501 1492 Opposed by Andrew Pictoris,Bishop of Orkney. 1492
List of Commendators James Stewart,Son of King James III of Scotland. 1500–1504 Gilbert Strachan, 1504 James Beaton, 1504–1509Became Bishop of Galloway-elect in March 1508, but retained the abbacy until fully provided as Archbishop of Glasgow in January 1509. Alexander Stewart,Became Commendator while Archbishop of St Andrews (1504–1513). 1509–1513 James Hepburn, 1513–1516Resigned when provided as Bishop of Moray in 1516. Peter de Accoltis, 1514 Andrew Forman, 1514–1521Held the post concurrently with the archbishopric of St Andrews (i.e. 1514–1521). James Beaton (again), 1522–1539Retook abbacy after being provided from the archbishopric of Glasgow to St Andrews as the successor of Andrew Forman. George Durie, 1526/39–1572 Robert Pitcairn, 1553/72–1584Set the surviving motto on front of Abbot House, Dunfermline Henry Pitcairn, 1582/4–1593 Patrick, Master of Gray, 1585–1587 George, Earl of Huntly, 1587
Notes
Bibliography Cowan, Ian B. & Easson, David E., Medieval Religious Houses: Scotland With an Appendix on the Houses in the Isle of Man, Second Edition, (London, 1976), pp. 58–59 Watt, D.E.R. & Shead, N.F. (eds.), The Heads of Religious Houses in Scotland from the 12th to the 16th Centuries (The Scottish Records Society, New Series, Volume 24), (Edinburgh, 2001), p. 67–73