Prior of Loch Leven facts for kids
The Prior of Loch Leven was the leader of a group of Augustinian canons who lived at St Serf's Inch Priory. This priory was located on an island in Loch Leven, Scotland. These canons were like monks who followed strict religious rules.
Before the Augustinians, there was an older Scottish religious group called Céli Dé (or Culdee) at the same spot. This group was supposedly started by Bruide, son of Dargart, a King of the Picts who ruled from 696 to 706.
In 1150, the Augustinian priory was founded. The Scottish monks who were already there were asked to join the new Augustinian group. If they refused, they had to leave. We don't know all the names of the priors who led the priory over the years.
One of the most famous priors was a writer named Andrew de Wyntoun. He wrote important historical records. After more than 400 years, the priory's last prior left. Then, King James VI of Scotland (who was Protestant) gave the priory to St Leonard's College in St Andrews.
Leaders of St Serf's Inch Priory
This section lists the known leaders of the priory, first the early Scottish abbots, then the Augustinian priors.
Early Scottish Abbots of St Serf's Inch
- Ronán, active around the mid-900s
- Eógan, active around 1128
Augustinian Priors of Loch Leven
- Roger, active between 1183 and 1212
- Simon, around 1225 to 1235
- G. [...?], active in 1235
- Laurence, active in 1268
- Robert de Montrose, active between 1386 and 1387
- David Bell, 1387–1390
- Thomas Mason, 1388–1389
- Andrew de Wyntoun, 1390–1421
- James Biset, 1391–1394 (likely a sub-prior or assistant)
- John Cameron, 1421
- Andrew Newton, 1423
- Robert Horsbruk, 1440–1460
- David Ramsay, active between 1462 and 1466
- Walter Monypenny, 1465–1500
- John Wylie, 1465
- Alexander Scrimgeour, 1483
- Thomas Kynor [Kinnear], 1486
- David Dickson, 1524–1525
- Michael Donaldson, 1524–1525
- John Winram, 1534
- David Guthrie, 1544–1558
- John Winram, 1552–1582
