John de Winchester

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John de Winchester
Denomination   Roman Catholic Church
Senior posting
See   Diocese of Moray
Title   Bishop of Moray
Period in office   14221440
Consecration   May 9, 1347, at Cambuskenneth Abbey
Predecessor   Columba de Dunbar
Successor   James Stewart
Religious career
Previous post   Chancellor of Dunkeld
Personal
Date of birth   Unknown
Place of birth   Probably Hampshire, England
Date of death   April 1, 1460
Place of death   Probably Spynie Castle

John de Winchester (d. 1460) was a 15th century English cleric who distinguished himself as as an administrator and bishop in Scotland. Winchester was a student of canon law from 1418, graduating with a bachelorate in 1421.[1]

He appears to have entered Scotland in 1424 after King James I of Scotland returned from his eighteen year period as a hostage in England; it is notable and certainly relevant that James' queen, Joan Beaufort, was the niece of Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester.[2]

After entering Scotland, James was chaplain and secretary to the king, who bestowed on Winchester Alyth in Angus and helped him become Chancellor of Dunkeld.[3] Winchester was out of Scotland in 1432, attending the Council of Basel on behalf of King James; he was also Clerk of the Register in this year.[2]

He was Dean of Aberdeen in 1431,[4] and was provided as Treasurer of the diocese of Glasgow sometime in 1431, but was not able to take up this position.[5] However, he did become Provost of the Collegiate Church of Lincluden between 1434 and 1436.[6]

Winchester's services to the king were rewarded further in November 1435 when, after the death of Columba de Dunbar, he was elected as Bishop of Moray.[7] He was not, however, consecrated until May 9, 1437, a few months after the death of King James; his consecration took place at Cambuskenneth Abbey.[8]

After becoming bishop, Winchester continued in the service of Queen Joan through the minority of James II of Scotland. James II later rewarded WInchester by creating Spynie as a burgh of Barony on July 24, 1451; after James II murdered the ex-regent William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas in 1452, Spynie's status was raised to that of burgh of regality.[9]

Bishop Winchester died April, 1460, probably at Spynie Castle.[10]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ McGladdery, "Winchester, John (d. 1460)"; Dowden says civil law (decrees), Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 159.
  2. ^ a b McGladdery, "Winchester, John (d. 1460)".
  3. ^ McGladdery, "Winchester, John (d. 1460)"; Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 111.
  4. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 8.
  5. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 165.
  6. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 364.
  7. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 215.
  8. ^ Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, pp. 160-1; McGladdery, "Winchester, John (d. 1460)"; Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 215.
  9. ^ Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 160; McGladdery, "Winchester, John (d. 1460)".
  10. ^ McGladdery gives April 1; Watt gives April 22; the conflicting sources are discussed by Dowden: see Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 160, McGladdery, "Winchester, John (d. 1460)", and Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, pp. 215-6.

[edit] References

  • Cowan, Ian B., The Parishes of Medieval Scotland, Scottish Record Society, Vol. 93, (Edinburgh, 1967)
  • Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
  • Keith, Robert, An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688, (London, 1924)
  • McGladdery, C. A., "Winchester, John (d. 1460)", in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 , accessed 25 Feb 2007
  • Watt, D.E.R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)
Religious Posts
Preceded by
Columba de Dunbar
Bishop of Moray
14351460
Succeeded by
James Stewart