Abbot of Soulseat

The Abbot of Soulseat was the head of the Premonstratensian (originally Cistercian) monastic community of Soulseat Abbey in Galloway. The following is a list of abbots and commendators:

List of Cistercian abbots

• Michael of Bangor, fl. c. 1148^[1]

List of Premonstratensian abbots

• Michael of Bangor^[2]
• None of the abbots before 1273 known by name
• John, 1273
• More than a century with no known abbot
• Fionnlagh (Finlay), 1386-1393
• Patrick McChaquhirky, 1452-1458
• Gilbert MacUlnan (MacWilnane), 1458-1464 x 1486
• Patrick MacCulloch 1486
• Quentin Vaus 1493-1527
• David Vaus 1525-1532

List of commendators

• James Johnstone, 1532-1545/6^[3]
• John Johnstone I, 1545-1567
  • Opposed by James Kennedy, 1548, 1555
• John Johnstone II, 1584-1598
• John Kennedy, 1598
• John Johnstone III, 1599
• William Adair, 1601
• John Hamilton, 1612-1630

Notes

1. ^ Probably from Bangor; appointed by St Malachy as head of the Cistercian community
2. ^ Recorded in the Obituary of Prémontré as the "first abbot of our abbots in Galloway". Probably refers to the same Michael.
3. ^ Resigned on pension; retained use of title until 1548

Bibliography

• Watt, D.E.R. & Shead, N.F. (eds.), The Heads of Religious Houses in Scotland from the 12th to the 16th Centuries, The Scottish Records Society, New Series, Volume 24, (Edinburgh, 2001), p. 204-6

See also

• Soulseat Abbey