THE ECCLESIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DIOCESE OF DUNKELD AT THE REFORMATION

Abstract

The diocese of Dunkeld at the Reformation comprised four deaneries and sixtynine parish churches. The deanery of Atholl and Drumalban was the largest and with the deanery of Angus comprised the main body of the diocese. The other churches were contained within the deanery of Fife and Strathearn and the deanery of Lothian.1 The majority of the churches within the diocese were appropriated to the cathedral or to other religious houses. The cathedral possessed fifteen prebendal, eight mensal and five common churches. Other churches were appropriated to the abbeys of Inchcolm, Dunfermline, Scone, Cambuskenneth, Coupar Angus, Holyrood, Inchaffray, Arbroath and Culross and to the priories of St Andrews and Strathfillan. The remaining seven churches, all in the north-west of the diocese, were independent parsonages. 2 The cathedral chapter at Dunkeld conformed to the standard pattern consisting of the principale personae, the lesser dignitaries and the canons.3 The actual size of the cathedral staff, including an unknown number of chaplains, can be estimated at approximately fifty persons. If Alexander Myln's Lives of the Bishops is to be believed, Dunkeld prospered during the first half of the sixteenth century. Myln speaks in glowing terms of his Dunkeld colleagues, men such as Walter Brown, who possessed a 'remarkable knowledge of canon law and a strong sense of justice.'4 Despite the size of the diocese justice was administered well. The commissary-general at the end of the fifteenth century was the first man who 'effectively punished the excesses and crimes of the Highland folk.'5 The moral discipline of the diocese was monitored by the deans who kept an eye on the clergy as well as the laity. The dean of Atholl claimed considerable success in 'routing out abominable sins in Atholl and Drumalbane.'6 Due consideration was also given to education and music, especially during the time of Gavin Douglas (1515-22), who was better known for his poetry than for his piety. Boys entering the priesthood at Dunkeld lodged with one of the canons or the vicars-choral and served a clerical rather than an intellectual apprenticeship. In 1446 four additional vicars-choral and six choirboys had been appointed, and by the early sixteenth century the members of the choir were 'highly trained in the theory of music as well as the art of singing', were 'steady in the chant' and 'sublime in musical theory and in organ-playing.'7 The cathedral is well known for its antiphonary with its polyphonic settings for the ordinary of mass and anthems.8 Dunkeld had long been