James Bane

James Bane or James Ben (d. 1332) was Bishop of St. Andrews for a brief period in the early 14th century. In his earlier career, James had been a canon of Aberdeen and prebendary of Cruden.

James rose to the position of Archdeacon of St. Andrews, one of the most senior positions within the diocese. Ten days after the death of Bishop William de Lamberton in 1328, the chapter held an election to fill the vacancy. James, although fortunately absent at the court of Pope John XXII at Rome, stood against Alexander de Kyninmonth, Archdeacon of Lothian, and won. However, before news of his victory reached Rome, Pope John, who had previously reserved his right to do so, had already provided James to the see. James was consecrated, sometime in the same year, by Bertrand de Turre, Bishop of Frascati.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Dupplin Moor on August 12, 1332, after roughly two years back in Scotland as chief-bishop of the kingdom, James fled to Flanders. He met his death at Bruges in the same year. He was succeeded to the bishopric by William Bell.

References

*Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)