Royal Scots College facts for kids
| Type | Seminary |
|---|---|
| Established | 1627 |
| Founders | William Semple María de Ledesma |
|
Religious affiliation
|
Roman Catholic |
| Rector | Fr Thomas A. Kilbride |
| Location |
,
Spain
(1988–present) |
The Royal Scots College (in Spanish, Real Colegio de Escoceses) is a special school in Salamanca, Spain. It's a place where people train to become Catholic priests for Scotland.
The college has moved a few times. It started in Madrid, then moved to Valladolid. Since 1988, it has been in Salamanca.
Contents
History of the College
Founding the College in Madrid
The Royal Scots College was started in Madrid in 1627. It was founded by Colonel William Semple from Lochwinnoch and his wife, Doña María de Ledesma. Colonel Semple had spent his life working for the Spanish king as a soldier and diplomat.
The college was set up to teach Scottish students. These students were meant to be good people who wanted to help others. They would study subjects like grammar, philosophy, and theology. After their studies, they would go back to Scotland. Their goal was to preach the Christian message and help people.
Jesuit Leadership and Changes
For a long time, the college in Madrid was run by Jesuit priests from Spain. A Scottish Jesuit named Hugh Semple was in charge for a while until he passed away in 1654. The rectors, or leaders, of the college were chosen by the Jesuit leader in Toledo.
In 1726, King Philip V of Spain appointed the college's rector, William Clerk, to an important position. Clerk then left his role at the college.
In 1734, Scottish students moved to another Scots College in Douai. However, the Madrid college still had staff for many years. In 1767, the Jesuits were asked to leave Spain. So, the college closed, and its money and property were given to the Irish College nearby.
But in 1771, this decision was changed. The college's assets were returned to the Scottish church. The college then moved to Valladolid and was run by Scottish priests.
Challenges and New Beginnings
The college had to close from 1808 to 1816 because of the Peninsular War. During this war, French soldiers controlled Valladolid. The building next to the college became a hospital. The college rector was even told to let French officers stay there in 1810.
In 1828, King Ferdinand VII and his wife visited the college in Valladolid.
The college moved to Salamanca in 1988. This move allowed students to attend the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
A Special Discovery
In September 2020, something very exciting was found in the college's library in Salamanca. It was a 1634 edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen. This play was written by the famous English playwright William Shakespeare. People believe it is the oldest copy of any of his plays in Spain.
Boecillo Summer House
The college used to own a summer house called the Casa Grande. This house was in the village of Boecillo, about eight miles south of Valladolid. It was built in the 1790s. Back then, students did not travel home during the summer.
John Geddes, a leader at the college, thought a country house would be good for the students' health. His successor, Alexander Cameron, started buying land near the village in 1787. Eventually, the village gave Cameron some land to build the house. The house was mostly ready by 1798.
During the Peninsular War, the famous general Duke of Wellington used the Boecillo house as his headquarters twice in 1812.
The college used the house until it left Valladolid in 1988. It was sold for building development in the early 2000s.
Rectors of the College
A rector is the head or leader of a college or seminary. Here are the rectors who have led the Royal Scots College over the years.
Scots College in Madrid
- Rev. Hugh Semple SJ (1627–54)
- Rev. Andrew Youngson SJ (1654–55)
- Rev. Adam Gordon SJ (1655–56)
- Rev. Fredrick Mazwell SJ (1656–59)
- Rev. William Grant SJ (1659–65)
- Rev. James Anderson SJ (1665–81)
- Rev. Antonio de Rada (1688–1702)
- Rev. Fernando Cortes SJ (1711–14)
- Rev. Thomas Fife SJ (1714–17)
- Rev. Kenneth (F.X.) Strachan SJ (1717–21)
- Rev. William Clerk SJ (1721–26)
- Rev. William MacGill SJ (1726–34)
- Rev. Ernest Little (1734)
- Rev. Gabriel Bousemart (1734–41)
- Rev. Augustin Varona (1741–43)
- Rev. Antonio Espinosa (1743–46)
- Rev. Fabian de la Vega (1746–63)
- Rev. Cosmo Leon de Selva (1763–66/67)
Reestablishment and move to Valladolid
- Rev. John Geddes (1771–80)
- Rev. Alexander Cameron (1780–98)
- Rev. John Gordon (1798–1810)
- Rev. Alexander Cameron (1810–33)
- Rev. John Cameron (1833–73)
- Rev. John Cowie (1873–79)
- Rev. David McDonald (1879–1903)
- Very Rev. John Canon Woods (1903–09)
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. James Humble (1909–40)
- Rev. Dr James Connolly (1940–52)
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Philip Flanagan (1952–60)
- Rev. Daniel P. Boyle (1960–65)
- Rt. Rev. Mgr Maurice Taylor (1965–74)
- Very Rev. John Canon Walls (1974–81)
- Rev. John McGee (1981–87)
- Rt. Rev. Ian Murray (1987–94)
- Rev. William Dunnachie (1994–97)
- Rev. Denis E. Carlin (1997–2004)
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Joseph Toal (2005–08)
- Rev. Charles O'Farrell (2009–14)
- Rev. Thomas A. Kilbride (2014–present)
Famous Alumni
Alumni are people who used to be students at a school or college. Former students of the Royal Scots College are sometimes called the 'Ambrosians' or Ambrosianos. This name comes from the old college building in Valladolid, which was called the College of St Ambrose. The Ambrosian Society is a group for former students and staff.
Here are some notable people who studied at the college:
- Angus Chisholm (1759/60–1818), a church leader
- Angus Bernard MacEachern (1759–1835), the first Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown in Canada
- Alexander Macdonnell (1762–1840), Bishop of Kingston
- William Fraser (1779–1851), Bishop of Arichat
- John Murdoch (1796–1865), a church leader in Scotland
- George Rigg (1814–1887), Bishop of Dunkeld
- James McCarthy (1853–1943), Bishop of Galloway
- John Toner (1857–1949), Bishop of Dunkeld
- Allan MacDonald (1859–1905), a priest, storyteller, and poet who wrote in Scottish Gaelic
- Donald Martin (1873–1938), Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
- William Hart (1904-1992), Bishop of Dunkeld
- James Monaghan (1914–1994), an Auxiliary Bishop
- Ian Murray (1932–2016), Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
- Joseph Toal (born 1956), Bishop of Motherwell
- Martin Chambers (1964–2024), Bishop-Elect of Dunkeld
See also
In Spanish: Royal Scots College para niños
- Scots College, Rome
- Scots College, Paris
- Scots College, Douai
- Scots Monastery, Regensburg
