The Archdeacon of St Andrews was the head of the Archdeaconry of St Andrews, a subdivision of the Diocese of St Andrews, from the 12th to the 17th century. The position was one of the most important positions within the medieval Scottish church; because of his area's large population and high number of parish churches, the Archdeacon of St Andrews may have exercised more power than many Scottish bishops. The following is a list of known archdeacons:
List of Archdeacons of St Andrews Matthew, 1147 x 1152-1172Became Bishop of Aberdeen. Walter de Roxburgh, 1173-1179 x 1188 Hugh de Roxburgh, 1189 x 1194-1199 Ranulf de Wat, 1199-1209 Laurence de Thorenton, 1209-1238 x 1240 Adam, 1240-1248 Abel de Golynn, 1250-1254Became Bishop of St Andrews. William Wishart, 1254-1273Became Bishop of St Andrews. Alpín of Strathearn, 1278Became Bishop of Dunblane. Gregory, 1279-1295 John Fraser, 1296-1297 Roger de Kingston, 1299 Adam de Mauchan/Machane, 1301-1304 ?Seal of St Andrews archdeacon used in this year, but name unknown. Robert de Lamberton, 1319-1323 James Bane, 1325-1328. William de Lindsay 1330. William de Pilmuir, 1340-1345 x 1353 Henry Stupy, x 1353. William Wys, 1353-1354 William de Greenlaw, 1353-1373 William de Chisholm, 1367 John de Peebles (Peblis), 1374 -1378 x 1379 Andrew de Trebrun, 1378 Thomas Stewart, 1380-1430 George Newton 1430 x 1431-1433 Richard de Creich, 1430-1432. Thomas de Myrton (Merton), 1431-1433 William de Foulis, 1432-1441 John Legat, 1443-1451 Hugh Kennedy, x 1452 (?), 1454 John Kennedy, 1454 Hugh Douglas, 1454-1456 x 1457 Walter Stewart, 1456 x 1457-1472 x 1474 Hugh Douglas, 1466 William Scheves 1472 x 1474-1478Became Archbishop of St Andrews. Robert Blackadder, 1477-1480Became Archbishop of St Andrews. Andrew Stewart, 1479 Alexander Inglis, 1480-1496.Was Bishop of Dunkeld (elect) in 1483, but failed to attain the bishopric. John Ireland, 1483-1485The famous medieval philosopher; got provided after Alexander Inglis was elected as Bishop of Dunkeld; as this was unsuccessful, Inglis resumed his position as Archdeacon. Robert de Fontibus (Wells), 1497-1501 Alexander Stewart, 1502-1504 Gavin Dunbar, 1504-1519Became Bishop of Aberdeen. Thomas Halkerston 1519-1521 x 1524 John Cantuly, 1524-1537 George Durie, 1526-1559Also Abbot of Dunfermline. Robert Pitcairn, 1539-1584.Also Abbot of Dunfermline. George Young, 1584-1603.Gordon Donaldson, Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland: 1581–1584, vol. 8 (Edinburgh, 1982), p. 488 no. 2757. Alexander Gledstanes, 1612-1638
Notes
Bibliography Watt, D.E.R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969), pp. 304–9
See also Archdeacon of Lothian Bishop of St Andrews