Robert Stitchill

Infobox bishopbiog
name =Robert Stitchill


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Durham
Title = Bishop of Durham
Period = 1260–1274
Predecessor = Walter of Kirkham
Successor =Robert of Holy Island
ordination =
bishops =
post =
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =4 August 1274
place of death =

Robert Stitchill (sometimes Robert Stichel) was a medieval Bishop of Durham in England.

Life

Stitchill probably came from the village of Stitchill in Roxburghshire. His father was a priest, and may have been the William Scot who was elected to the see of Durham in 1226. William Scot was never confirmed as bishop, for his election was quashed by Pope Gregory IX in 1227.Piper "Stichill, Robert of (d. 1274)" "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography"] Stitchill was a monk at Durham Cathedral and prior of a monastic cell at Finchale [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33859 British History Online Bishops of Durham] accessed on 25 October 2007] before he was elected to the see of Durham on 30 September 1260.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 242] His dispensation for his illegitimate birth had already been obtained from the pope. He was consecrated bishop on 13 February 1261 at Southwell by Godfrey Ludham, Archbishop of York.

While bishop, he gave convert|1300|acre|km2 of land to the monks of his cathedral chapter for their support, as well as books and other gifts. However, there were disputes with the monks over the retirement of their prior, and also over the right of the bishop to oversee the affairs of the chapter. He also founded a hospital at Greatham that survived into the modern age. He defended the rights of the bishop to the palatinate of Durham, securing a number of court decisions that upheld the palatinate rights of the bishop.

Stitchill attended the Second Council of Lyon in 1274, where he obtained the permission of Pope Gregory X to resign his see. He died on 4 August 1274 near Lyons, before he was able to return to Durham to resign. He was buried at Savigny Abbey, although his heart was sent to Durham to be buried there.

Notes

References

* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=33859 British History Online Bishops of Durham] accessed on 25 October 2007
*
* Piper, A. J. "Stichill, Robert of (d. 1274)" "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography" Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26522 Online Edition] accessed 2 February 2008

Persondata
NAME= Stitchill, Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Stichel, Robert
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Durham
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=4 August 1274
PLACE OF DEATH=