Dunfermline Abbey drawn by John Slezer c.1690
Dunfermline Abbey, circa 1919

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

List of Abbots

List of Commendators

Notes

  1. ^ Resigned to become a Cistercian, and moved to Newbattle Abbey; later became Abbot of Melrose (1269–73).
  2. ^ Had previously been Prior of Urquhart.
  3. ^ Had been Abbot of Paisley (1444–1445).
  4. ^ Had been Abbot of Paisley (1459–1471).
  5. ^ After 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.
  6. ^ Was Abbot of Jedburgh 1484–1501
  7. ^ Bishop of Orkney.
  8. ^ Son of King James III of Scotland.
  9. ^ Became Bishop of Galloway-elect in March 1508, but retained the abbacy until fully provided as Archbishop of Glasgow in January 1509.
  10. ^ Became Commendator while Archbishop of St Andrews (1504–1513).
  11. ^ Resigned when provided as Bishop of Moray in 1516.
  12. ^ Held the post concurrently with the archbishopric of St Andrews (i.e. 1514–1521).
  13. ^ Retook abbacy after being provided from the archbishopric of Glasgow to St Andrews as the successor of Andrew Forman.
  14. ^ Set the surviving motto on front of Abbot House, Dunfermline

Bibliography

Categories