Oswald of Glenluce facts for kids

Oswald was a Cistercian monk and a bishop who lived in the late 1300s and early 1400s. He was an important religious leader during a time when the Christian church was divided.

There was a person named Oswald Botelere (Butler) who received permission to travel to England in 1365. He went there to study at the University of Oxford. However, we don't know for sure if this Oswald Butler was the same person as Oswald of Glenluce, the bishop.

A Divided Church: The Western Schism

In 1378, a big problem called the Western Schism started in the Christian church. This meant there were two popes instead of one. One pope, Urban VI, was in Rome. The other, Clement VII, was in Avignon, France.

When the Bishop of Galloway, Adam de Lanark, passed away in 1378, both popes wanted to choose their own new bishop for the area. This caused a lot of confusion and disagreement.

Oswald Becomes Bishop

At this time, Oswald was a "claustral prior" at Glenluce Abbey. This means he was like a deputy-abbot, helping to lead the monastery. The local church leaders chose Oswald to become the new Bishop of Galloway.

Pope Urban VI, the pope in Rome, officially approved Oswald as bishop. Oswald was then consecrated, which means he was formally made a bishop. This happened before March 26, 1379. He even received special permission from King Richard II of England to travel through England for church business with Pope Urban.

Challenges and Rivals

Oswald had the support of Pope Urban VI. However, the Kingdom of Scotland, where Galloway was located, supported Pope Clement VII. This made things very difficult for Oswald to keep his position as bishop.

Another person, Ingram de Ketenis, was first chosen by Pope Clement VII for the bishop role but he turned it down. Then, a Franciscan friar named Thomas de Rossy, who strongly supported Pope Clement, became Oswald's main rival for the bishopric.

It seems Oswald was bishop for only a short time. Even though he asked Pope Clement to accept his election, he lost the legal battle against Thomas de Rossy by October 21, 1381.

Life in England

The next few years of Oswald's life are not very clear. But on May 5, 1388, King Richard II of England gave Oswald, who was called "bishop of Galway," permission to enter England. Oswald had to leave Galloway to stay safe.

Oswald spent the rest of his life in England. He worked as a "suffragan" for the Archbishop of York. A suffragan bishop helps a more senior bishop with their duties. Oswald also helped Cardinal Thomas Langley, who was the Bishop of Durham, in 1406 and 1416.

We don't know the exact date Oswald died, but he was last mentioned between September and December 1417. So, he likely passed away in 1417 or sometime after.