The Bishop of the Isles or Bishop of Sodor was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of the Isles (or Sodor), one of Scotland's thirteen medieval bishoprics. The bishopric, encompassing both the Hebrides and Mann, probably traces its origins as an ecclesiastical unity to the careers of Olaf, King of the Isles, and Bishop Wimund. Previously, there had been numerous bishoprics and recorded bishoprics include Kingarth, Iona, Skye and Mann. There were very likely numerous others.
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| d. 623 | Fergno Britt mac Faílbi | Was one of the companions of Saint Columba. He was the 4th abbot of Iona, and is also styled "bishop". |
| fl. x697–712 | Coeddi | The Annals of Ulster, s.a. 712.1, records his death and styles him Coeddi episcopus Iae (i.e. "Coeddi, Bishop of Iona"). |
| d. 713 | Dorbbéne | Dunchad appears to have been Abbot of Iona during Dorbbéne's time in charge. The abbacy was either divided or Dorbbéne was bishop while Dunchad was abbot. |
| fl. mid. 9th century | Patrick | Testified as bishop "i Suðreyjam" (in the Hebrides) in Norse sources, was perhaps merely a legendary figure. |
| d. 963 | Fothad | According to the Annals of the Four Masters, s.a. 961.3 (=s.a. 963), he was Fothadh, mac Brain, scribhnidh & espucc Insi Alban; that is, "Fothad, son of Bran, scribe and bishop of the islands of Scotland". We know from other sources that he was probably bishop of Cennrígmonaid (i.e. St. Andrews), or at least, "High Bishop of Scotland" without a specific see. |
| d. 966 | Finguine | The Annals of the Four Masters record his death in 966 (=s.a. M964.3) as "anchorite and Bishop of Iona". |
Kingarth was a church on the Isle of Bute, supposedly founded by Saint Chattan and Saint Blane. Three abbots are known, but only two bishops. Sadly, little is known about the abbey, bishopric and individual clerics.
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| d. 660 | Daniél | The Annals of Ulster, s.a. 660.1, records the death of this "and Daniél, bishop of Cenn Garad". |
| d. 689 | Iolán | The Annals of Ulster, s.a. 689.1, record the death of this Iolán, "bishop of Cenn Garad". |
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| x1079 | Roolwer | |
| x1079 | William | |
| fl. 1079x1095 | Hamond | |
| el. 1103x1108 | Anonymous | An unnamed bishop is presented for consecration to Gerard, the Archbishop of York. He may or may not have been Wimund. |
|
See also: Bishop of Sodor and Man |
The list of bishops known to have ruled the whole of what became the Diocese of the Isles (Sodor).
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1134–x 1148 | Wimund | Described as bishop of sancta ecclesia de Schith "holy church of Skye" (1109 x 1114). His bishopric may have been confined to Skye until 1134 x 1138, when he was definitely bishop of the Isles and Mann. |
| x 1148–x 1152 | Nicholas (I.) | Presented by Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles to the Dean of York for consecration; no evidence positively that he took office. |
| 1151 x 1152–1152 x 1154 | John (I.) | Not known to have possessed his see. He was probably a candidate of the Archbishop of York who proved unacceptable to Óláfr. |
| 1154–1154 x 1166 | Gamaliel | |
| 1154 x 1166–1170 | Reginald (I.) | A Norwegian; called, variously, Reinarb, Reinar, Nemar and Nemarr. |
| 1166–1170 x 1194 | Christian | It is possible that this is the same as Christian, Bishop of Whithorn. |
| x 1194–1203 | Michael | |
| 1203 x 1210–1217 | Nicholas (II.) | Also called Koli, a Scandinavian shortening of Nicholas. |
| 1217 x 1226 | Reginald (II.) | A relation of the royal family of the Isles. May not have had the support of Furness Abbey, who at that point held the right to elect the Bishop of the Isles. |
| 1217 x 1219–1224 x 1225 | Nicholas de Meaux | Was Abbot of Furness. |
| 1224 x 1226–1226 | John (II.), son of Hefar | Died in an accident soon after becoming bishop. |
| 1226–1248 | Simon | |
| 1248 | Laurence | Laurence had been the archdeacon of Mann, and was elected to the bishopric after the death of Bishop Simon. He presented himself to the King of Norway and the Archbishop of Trondheim; the king would not agree to the election until he had visited personally; however, Laurence and his party drowned near Shetland on the voyage back to Mann. |
| 1253–1275 | Richard [de Natherton?] | An Englishman who was a canon of St Andrews Cathedral Priory in Scotland. Surname "de Natherton" is hypothetical, but supported by evidence. |
| el. 1275 | Gilbert | An Englishman. Previously Abbot of Rushen, he was apparently elected to the see after the death of Bishop Richard. However, Alexander III, King of Scotland ignored the election and installed instead Mark. |
| 1275–1303 | Mark | Latin: Marcus. A native of Galloway. Blind at his death in 1303. |
| 1303 x 1305–1322 | Alan | Scottish Gaelic: Ailean. Died in office. |
| 1324–1326 x 1327 | Gilbert Maclellan | Scottish Gaelic: Giolla-Brighde Mac Giolla-Faoláin. A native of Galloway. Died in office. |
| 1327 x 1328–1328 x 1331 | Bernard of Kilwinning | |
| 1331 | Cormac Cormacii | Scottish Gaelic: Cormac Mac Chormaic. Elected by canons of Skye, but does not appear to have obtained confirmation. |
| 1331–1348 | Thomas de Rossy | |
| 1349–1374 | William Russell | |
| 1374–1387/1392 | John Dongan | Deprived of bishopric in 1387 by Scottish-backed Avignon Pope Clement VII. Continued in English-controlled Mann until 1392, but from 1387 onwards the diocese has permanently split into two parts. |
The bishopric of the Isles became divided, primarily because the see became divided between the kings of England and Scotland. The English had taken over Mann, leaving the other islands to the north under Scottish overlordship.
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1387–1409 | Michael | Translated from Cashel by Antipope Clement VII, upon deprivation of Dongan. |
| 1410–c.1421 | Richard Payl | Translated from Dromore by Antipope John XXIII. Recognised bishop of the Isles until c.1421 and bishop of Mann until c.1429/33. |
| prov. 1422 | Michael Ochiltree | Received papal provision, but was aborted. |
| 1426–1437 x 1441 | Angus (I.) | Scottish Gaelic: Aonghas. Son of Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles. |
| 1441–1467 x 1472 | John Hectoris MacGilleon | Scottish Gaelic: Eóin Mac Gill-Eathain. |
| 1472–1479 x 1480 | Angus (II.) | Scottish Gaelic: Aonghas. |
| 1487–1490 | John Campbell (I.) | Scottish Gaelic: Eóin Caimbeul. |
| 1510–1513 | George Hepburn | |
| 1514–1532 | John Campbell (II.) | Scottish Gaelic: Eóin Caimbeul. Received papal provision but never paid for it, so had still not been confirmed when he resigned his right to Fearchar Mac Eachainn in 1528 and in 1532. |
| nom. 1529 | James Stewart | The Abbot of Dryburgh, nominated unsuccessfully by the crown. |
| 1528–1544 x 1546 | Ferchar MacEachan | Scottish Gaelic: Fearchar Mac Eachainn, also recorded as Fearchar/Ferquhard "MacCachane" and "Hecotris". |
| 1544–1552 x 1553 | Roderick MacLean | Scottish Gaelic: Ruaidhri Mac Gill-Eathain. |
| 1545–1546 | Roderick MacAllister | Scottish Gaelic: Ruaidhri Mac Alasdair. Candidate of Domhnall Dubh. |
| 1547 | John Hay | Names occurs as "postulate of Sodor" in English source dating 1547. Nothing else known. |
| 1547–1552 | Patrick Maclean | Scottish Gaelic: Padraig Mac Gill-Eain. |
| 1554–1559 | Alexander Gordon | Nominal Archbishop of Athens. |
| 1557–1560 x 1562 | John Campbell (III.) | Scottish Gaelic: Eóin Caimbeul. |
| nom. 1564 x 1565 | Patrick Maclean (again) | Scottish Gaelic: Padraig Mac Gill-Eathain. Transferred his nomination to Séon Carsuel in exchange for pension. |
| 1565–1572 | Séon Carsuel | Anglicised: John Carswell. |
| 1567 | Lachlan Maclean | Scottish Gaelic: Lachlann Mac Gill-Eathain. Obtained provision in secret from Mary, Queen of Scots. Transferred his rights to Carswell. |
| 1572–1592 x 1594 | John Campbell (III.) (again) | Scottish Gaelic: Eóin Caimbeul. |
| 1605–1618 x 1619 | Andrew Knox | Translated to Raphoe in 1610, but retained The Isles until 1618/19. |
| 1619–1627 x 1628 | Thomas Knox | |
| 1628–1633 | John Leslie | Translated to Raphoe. |
| 1634–1638 | Neil Campbell | Scottish Gaelic: Niall Caimbeul. |
| 1638–1662 | Episcopacy temporally abolished. | |
| 1662–1669 | Robert Wallace | Died in office. |
| 1674–1676 | James Ramsay | Translated from Dunblane on 28 July 1674. Translated back to Dunblane in April 1676. |
| 1677–1680 | Andrew Wood | Translated to Caithness in 1680. |
| 1680–1689 | Archibald Graham | |
| In 1689, the Episcopacy was abolished in the Church of Scotland. | ||
