William Scheves (died 1497) was the second Archbishop of St. Andrews. In his earlier ecclesiastical career, he had been clericus regiae (royal cleric) and Master of the hospital of Brechin. In 1474 he was provided unsuccessful to the Archdeaconry of Dunblane, but by the beginning of 1477 he was Archdeacon of St Andrews and coadjutor (successor) and Vicar-General of the archdiocese. After the deposition of Archbishop Patrick Graham in 1478, he succeeded to the archbishopric, apparently receiving the papal pall while in the presence of King James III and many of the nobility at Holyrood.
The archbishop was given connections to the Christian areas of the Mediterranean under Ottoman control. He was styled "Bishop of Delphi", and his subordinate, James Lindsay, was appointed "Bishop of Dionysias" as a suffragan of the Archbishop of St. Andrews. William's name is even noted in one Greek chronicle.
In the Arbuthnott Missal there is a striking full-page miniature painting of St Ternan, patron saint of the church of Arbuthnott, which is modelled on William Scheves, and can claim to be one of the earliest Scottish portraits.[1]
Scheves died on 28 January 1497.
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Patrick Graham |
Archbishop of St Andrews 1478–1497 |
Succeeded by James Stewart |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Patrick Graham Archbishop of St Andrews |
Chancellor of the University of St Andrews 1478–1497 |
Succeeded by James, Duke of Ross Archbishop of St Andrews |