James Kennedy

infobox bishopbiog
name = James Kennedy


religion=Roman Catholic Church
See = Diocese of St Andrews
Title = Bishop of St Andrews
Period = 1440–1465
consecration = 1438 (Dunkeld)
Predecessor = Henry Wardlaw
Successor = Patrick Graham
post = | ordination =
bishops = Dunkeld
date of birth = c. 1408
place of birth = Carrick, Scotland.
date of death =
place of death = St Andrews, May 24, 1465

James Kennedy ( _gd. Seumas Ceanadach) (c. 1408–1465) was a 15th century Bishop of Dunkeld and Bishop of St. Andrews, who participated in the Council of Florence and was the last man to govern the diocese of St. Andrews purely as bishop. Originally from the chief Gaelic kindred of Carrick, be became the principal figure in the government of the minority of King James II of Scotland, as well as founder of St Salvator's College, St Andrews.

He was the third and youngest son of Sir James Kennedy of Dunure, Ayrshire, and Princess Mary of Scotland, widow of the 1st Earl of Angus and second daughter of King Robert III of Scotland. His eldest brother was Gilbert Kennedy, 1st Lord Kennedy. James was born about 1408, and was sent to the continent to complete his studies in canon law and theology.

He was a canon and sub-deacon of Dunkeld until his provision and election to that see on July 1, 1437, after the death of Domhnall MacNeachdainn, the last elected bishop who died on his way to obtain consecration from the Pope. He received consecration in 1438, the following year.

He set himself to reform abuses, and attended the general council of Florence, in order to obtain authority from Pope Eugenius IV for his contemplated reforms. Eugenius did not encourage him in his schemes, but gave him the presentation to the abbacy of Scone "in commendam". Bishop James, however, was not Bishop of Dunkeld for long.

Bishop of St Andrews

The death of Henry Wardlaw left the bishopric of St Andrews, the most prestigious Scottish see, vacant, and it was James who was postulated to the vacancy. This occurred while James was at the court of Pope Eugenius IV, busy at Florence on the historical Council of Florence. However, before royal letters arrived bearing news of James' election, the Pope had already provided his translation to the see. Formal translation took place on June 8, 1440. He was an active and successful bishop. He celebrated his first mass in his St Andrews Cathedral September 30, 1442, and at once resumed his efforts in reform. During the minority of James II, Kennedy took a leading part in political affairs, and was frequently able to reconcile contending noblemen.

He was made Chancellor of Scotland in May 1444 after the expulsion of Sir William Crichton, but resigned the office a few weeks later on finding that his duties interfered with his ecclesiastical work. When the schism in the papacy assumed a very critical character, Kennedy undertook a journey to Rome with the intention of promoting a reconciliation. He obtained a safe-conduct through England from Henry VI, dated May 28 1446. [See RYMER, "Fœdera", xi. 128.] His efforts were unsuccessful, and he probably soon returned home. Another safe-conduct for himself and others "coming to England", dated May 20, 1455, ["ib". p. 365.] probably marks the termination of another visit to the continent.

In 1450 he founded St Salvator's College in St. Andrews, endowing it liberally with the teinds of four parishes that had formerly belonged to the bishopric. His foundation was confirmed by Pope Nicholas V by a bull dated February 27, 1451, and a few years later some alterations made in the foundation-charter received the approval of Pope Pius II by bulls dated September 13 and October 21, 1458. Shortly afterwards Kennedy established the Grey Friars monastery in St Andrews. He also built a large vessel called the "Saint Salvator", which was frequently used by royal personages, and regarded as a marvel, until it was wrecked near Bamburgh while on a voyage to Flanders in 1472. After the death of James II in 1460, Kennedy was chosen one of the seven regents during the minority of James III, and to him was committed not only the charge of the kingdom, but the pacification of the nobles associated with him in the government.

Death and legacy

He died on May 24, 1465. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 295.] The date is usually given as 1466, but a charter belonging to the abbey of Arbroath, dated 13 July 1465, speaks of him as lately deceased, and of his see as vacant. ["Liber S. Thome de Aberbrothoc—Regist. Nigr. 1329–1536", pp. 144–5.] Kennedy was buried in a magnificent tomb which he had caused to be built in St Salvator's Chapel. He had, it is believed, procured the design and materials from Italy. The ruins are still visible.

It is stated by Bishop Lesley that Kennedy's college, ship, and monument each cost an exceptional amount of money. Kennedy was highly esteemed during his lifetime, both as an ecclesiastic and a politician. Even George Buchanan says that he excelled all his predecessors and successors in the see, and praises his zeal for reform. Kennedy is said to have left behind him several treatises. The only titles preserved are "Historia sui Temporis" and "Monita Politica".

Notes

DNB sources

:"This article incorporates text from the Dictionary of National Biography, 1891. It cites the following sources:"
* "Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot.", 1424–1513
* "Cal. Documents relating to Scotland", vol. iv.
* Rymer's "Fœdera"
* Keith's "Scottish Bishops"

References

:"Many details in the 1891 DNB article are inaccurate, esp. dates, and some have been corrected from the following sources":
*Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
* Watt, D. E. R., "Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638", 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)

Further reading

:"James Kennedy has been one of the most written about prelates in medieval Britain, the following are some works availble but not used for the wikipedia article:"
* Dunlop, A. I., "The Life and Times of James Kennedy, Bishop of St Andrews", (St Andrews, 1950)
* Macdougall, Norman, "Bishop James Kennedy of St Andrews: a reassessment of his political career", in Norman Macdougall (ed.), "Church, Politics and Society: Scotland, 1408–1929", (1983), pp. 1–22
* Macdougall, Norman, "Kennedy, James (c.1408–1465)", in the "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/15372 , accessed 23 Feb 2007]