John of Kelso facts for kids

John was a religious leader who lived a long time ago, in the late 1100s and early 1200s. He was a monk from a special group called the Tironensians. Later, he became a bishop, which is an important leader in the Christian church.

Becoming a Bishop

John first appears in historical records in December 1199. At that time, he was chosen to be the Bishop of Aberdeen, a city in Scotland. Before this, he was the prior of Kelso Abbey. A prior was like a deputy or assistant to the Abbot, who was the main leader of the monastery.

John officially became the Bishop of Aberdeen by June 20, 1200. This process is called "consecration," which means he was formally made a bishop in a special ceremony. We don't know the exact date of this ceremony.

John's Time as Bishop

Not much is known about John's time as bishop. Records from that period are often incomplete. However, we do know a few things he did:

Church Meetings

In December 1200, John attended an important church meeting called a Provincial Council. This meeting was held in Perth and was led by a special representative of the Pope, called a Papal legate, named John of Salerno. These councils were where church leaders discussed important matters.

Important Documents

John's name also appears on three important documents called "charters." Charters were like official papers or agreements. These specific charters were from David of Huntingdon, who was a powerful noble. These documents are kept in a collection called a cartulary at Lindores Abbey. A cartulary is like a book where copies of important old documents are stored.

John also helped confirm "grants" made by Gille Críst, Earl of Mar. Grants were gifts or official permissions, often involving land or rights.

End of Life

Bishop John passed away on October 13, 1207.