Clerics and Clansmen : The Diocese of Argyll Between the Twelfth and Sixteenth Centuries

The Highlander has never enjoyed a good press, and has been usually characterised as peripheral and barbaric in comparison to his Lowland neighbour, more inclined to fighting than serving God. In Clerics and Clansmen Iain MacDonald examines how the medieval Church in Gaelic Scotland, often regarded as isolated and irrelevant, continued to function in the face of poverty, periodic warfare, and the formidable powers of the clan chiefs. Focusing upon the diocese of Argyll, the study analyses the life of the bishopric, before broadening to consider the parochial clergy ¿́¿ in particular origins, celibacy, education, and pastoral care. Far from being superficial, it reveals a Church deeply embedded within its host society while remaining plugged into the mainstream of Latin Christendom Clerics and Clansmen:The Diocese of Argyll between the Twelfthand Sixteenth Centuries......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 10 Figures......Page 12 List of Tables......Page 20 Tables......Page 22 List of Maps......Page 34 Maps......Page 36 Acknowledgements......Page 42 Abbreviations......Page 44 Note on Nomenclature......Page 50 Introduction......Page 52 Why Argyll?......Page 55 The Church in Argyll......Page 64 Note on Papal Sources......Page 67 Pre-twelfth Century Ecclesiastical Arrangements......Page 70 The Bishopric of Argyll in the Twelfth Century......Page 76 Lismore......Page 84 The Early Cathedral and Chapter......Page 90 2 The Late Medieval Bishopric and Its Bishops......Page 112 3 The Origins of the Clergy......Page 160 The Number of Clerical Personnel......Page 161 Geographical Origins......Page 165 Social Origins......Page 177 Papal Records......Page 179 Land and Property......Page 185 University......Page 190 Monumental Sculpture......Page 191 Clergy of Uncertain Origin......Page 194 Clergy from Learned and Ecclesiastical Kindreds......Page 202 4 Clerical Celibacy, Illegitimacy and Hereditary Succession......Page 214 Hereditary Transmission of Benefices......Page 246 5 Education and Learning......Page 256 6 Pluralism, Non-Residency and Pastoral Care......Page 284 The Burden of Hospitality......Page 302 Ordination......Page 307 Conclusion......Page 316 Appendix A: Parochial fasti of the Diocese of Argyll to 1560......Page 322 List of Abbreviations......Page 323 Glassary......Page 325 Kilfinan......Page 330 Kilmodan......Page 334 Inverchaolain......Page 336 Dunoon......Page 338 Kilmun......Page 340 Lochgoilhead......Page 342 Kilmorich......Page 345 Inveraray / Kilmalieu......Page 346 Kilmartin......Page 347 Craignish......Page 350 Kilcolmkill In Kintyre......Page 352 Kilblane......Page 355 Kilkivan......Page 356 Kilkerran......Page 359 Kilchousland......Page 361 Kilmichael......Page 362 Kilchenzie......Page 364 Killean......Page 365 Kilcalmonell......Page 366 Kilberry......Page 369 Kilchattan......Page 372 Kilmelfort......Page 373 Kilninver......Page 375 Kilbride......Page 377 Kilmore......Page 378 Lochawe......Page 382 Inishail......Page 384 Muckairn......Page 385 Glenorchy......Page 386 Kilbodan in Benderloch......Page 387 Lismore Parish Church......Page 388 Canons of Lismore Cathedral......Page 389 Eilean Munde......Page 390 Kilmonivaig......Page 391 Kilmallie......Page 394 Kilcolmkill in Morvern......Page 398 Killintag......Page 400 Eilean Fhìonain......Page 402 Ardnamurchan......Page 403 Arisaig......Page 404 Knoydart......Page 406 Glenelg......Page 408 Appendix B: List of University-Educated Beneficed Clergy by Institution......Page 410 Unknown University......Page 411 University of St Andrews......Page 412 Glasgow......Page 413 Foreign Universities......Page 415 Students of Possible West Highland Origin......Page 416 Unpublished Primary Sources......Page 418 Published Primary Sources......Page 419 Secondary Sources......Page 424 Unpublished Theses......Page 438 Works of Reference......Page 439 Index......Page 442 In Clerics and Clansmen Iain MacDonald examines the medieval diocese of Argyll in Gaelic Scotland between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries, and the clergy who served within it, exploring their origins, clerical celibacy, education and pastoral care.