TheBishop of the Isles orBishop of Sodor was the ecclesiastical head of theDiocese of the Isles (or Sodor), one ofScotland's thirteen medieval bishoprics. Thebishopric, encompassing both theHebrides andMann, probably traces its origins as an ecclesiastical unity to the careers of Olaf, King of the Isles, and BishopWimund. Previously, there had been numerous bishoprics and recorded bishoprics includeKingarth,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 SaintColumba. He was the 4th abbot of Iona, and is also styled "bishop". |
| fl. x697–712 | Coeddi | TheAnnals of Ulster, s.a.[clarification needed] 712.1, records his death and styles himCoeddi episcopus Iae (i.e. "Coeddi, Bishop of Iona"). |
| d. 713 | Dorbbéne | Dunchad appears to have beenAbbot of Iona during Dorbbéne's time in charge. Either the abbacy was 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 theAnnals of the Four Masters, s.a. 961.3 (=s.a. 963), he wasFothadh, 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 | TheAnnals of the Four Masters record his death in 966 (=s.a. M964.3) as "anchorite and Bishop of Iona". |
Kingarth was a church on theIsle of Bute, supposedly founded bySaint Chattan andSaint 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 | TheAnnals of Ulster, s.a. 660.1, records the death of this "and Daniél, bishop of Cenn Garad". |
| d. 689 | Iolán | TheAnnals 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, theArchbishop of York. He may or may not have beenWimund. |
| Tenure | Incumbent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1134–x 1148 | Wimund | Described as bishop ofsancta ecclesia de Schith "holy church ofSkye" (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 byÓláfr Guðrøðarson, King of the Isles to theDean of York for consecration; no positive evidence 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 asChristian, Bishop of Whithorn. |
| x 1194–1203 | Michael | |
| 1203 x 1210–1217 | Nicholas(II.) | Also calledKoli, a Scandinavian shortening of Nicholas. |
| 1217 x 1226 | Reginald(II.) | A relation of theroyal family of the Isles. May not have had the support ofFurness Abbey, who at that point held the right to elect the Bishop of the Isles. |
| 1217 x 1219–1224 x 1225 | Nicholas de Meaux | WasAbbot ofFurness. |
| 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 thearchdeacon of Mann, and was elected to the bishopric after the death of Bishop Simon. He presented himself to theKing of Norway and theArchbishop 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 acanon ofSt Andrews Cathedral Priory in Scotland. Surname "de Natherton" is hypothetical, but supported by evidence. |
| el. 1275 | Gilbert | An Englishman. Previously Abbot ofRushen, 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 ofGalloway. 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 ofGalloway. 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-backedAvignon 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 fromCashel byAntipope Clement VII, upon deprivation of Dongan. |
| 1410–c.1421 | Richard Payl | Translated fromDromore byAntipope John XXIII. Recognised bishop of the Isles untilc.1421 andbishop of Mann untilc.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, son of Angus Macdonald, Bishop of the Isles in 1426. |
| 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 | TheAbbot 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 ofDomhnall 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 | NominalArchbishop 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 fromMary, 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 toRaphoe in 1610, but retained The Isles until 1618/19. |
| 1619–1627 x 1628 | Thomas Knox | |
| 1628–1633 | John Leslie | Translated toRaphoe. |
| 1634–1638 | Neil Campbell | Scottish Gaelic:Niall Caimbeul. Died between 1643 and 1647. |
| 1638–1662 | Episcopacy temporally abolished. | |
| 1662–1669 | Robert Wallace | Died in office. |
| 1674–1676 | James Ramsay | Translated fromDunblane on 28 July 1674. Translated back to Dunblane in April 1676. |
| 1677–1680 | Andrew Wood | Translated toCaithness in 1680. |
| 1680–1689 | Archibald Graham | |
| In 1689, the Episcopacy was abolished in theChurch of Scotland. | ||
Senior churchmen ofMedieval Scotland (post-1100)  | |
|---|---|
| Archbishops | |
| Bishops | |
| Archdeacons | |
| Abbots | |
| Priors | |