Royal Scots College facts for kids
| Type | Seminary |
|---|---|
| Established | 1627; 395 years ago |
| Founder | Colonel William Semple and Doña Maria de Ledesma |
|
Religious affiliation
|
Roman Catholic |
| Rector | Thomas A. Kilbride |
| Location |
Salamanca (since 1988)
|
The Royal Scots College (Spanish: Real Colegio de Escoceses) is a major seminary in Salamanca, Spain, for the Catholic Church in Scotland. It was located originally at Madrid, then Valladolid, and then Salamanca (from 1988).
Contents
History
The Royal Scots College was founded at Madrid in 1627 by Colonel William Semple of Lochwinnoch and his wife, Doña María de Ledesma. Semple had spent his life in the military and diplomatic service of the Spanish crown.
The deed of foundation stipulated that the college was for students "Scottish by birth, preferably those of superior character and virtue and those who promise more fruit in the welfare of souls, and they have to spend whatever time may be necessary in studying Grammar and Philosophy, Theology, Controversies and Sacred Scripture, so that when they are well versed in all of these, they may proceed to the said Kingdom of Scotland to preach the Gospel and convert heretics... when they leave the said seminary for this purpose, others are to be received in their place having the same end, and thus the matter will continue for as long as the aforesaid conversion may require."
The Scottish Jesuit Hugh Semple was procurator or acting rector of the Scots College when it was located in Madrid, until his death in 1654. For much of its subsequent history in Madrid, the college was run by Spanish Jesuits, with rectors being appointed by the provincial in Toledo. In 1734 Scottish students were transferred to the Scots College in Douai, however the college still existed with a staff for the following 33 years. In 1767 following the expulsion of the Jesuits, the college closed and its assets transferred by royal decree, to the Irish College at Alcalá de Henares (outside Madrid). In 1771, the royal decree was annulled and assets were returned to the Scotish church, and the college was transferred to Valladolid under the direction of Scottish secular clergy. The college was closed from 1808 to 1816 due to the Peninsular War.
The college was transferred to Salamanca in 1988 in order for students to attend the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
In September 2020, a 1634 edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen, the last play by English playwright William Shakespeare, was reported to have been discovered at the Royal Scots College's library in Salamanca, Spain, which it is believed to be the oldest copy of any of his works in the country.
Rectors
Scots College in Madrid The college was administered by the Jesuit order, with the rector or superior appointed by the provincial of the order in Toledo
- Rev. Hugh Semple SJ (1627-1654), rector-procurator of the Madrid College
- Rev. Andrew Youngson SJ (1654-1655), administered college following Semples death
- Rev. Adam Gordon SJ (1655-1656), formerly rector of Scots College (Rome)
- Rev. Fredrick Mazwell SJ (1656-1659)
- Rev. William Grant SJ (1659-1665)
- Rev. James Anderson SJ (1665-1681), position referred to as Rector, succeeded by Spanish rectors.
- Rev. Antonio de Rada (1688-1702)
- Rev. Fernando Cortes SJ (1711-1714)
- Rev. Thomas Fife SJ (1714-1717), rectorship reassigned to a Scotish Jesuit
- Rev. K. (F.X.) Strachan SJ (1717-1721)
- Rev. William Clark SJ (1721-1726), previously rector of Scots College Rome
- Rev. William MacGill SJ (1726-1734)
- Rev. Ernest Little (1734) appointed, however before taking up appointment, Superior General ordered all students transferred to Scots College, Douai.
Reestablishment and move to Valladolid
- Rev. John Geddes (1771-1780), first rector following re-establishment of college and move to Valladolid
- Rev. Alexander Cameron (1780-1798)
- Rev. John Gordon (1798-1810)
- Rev. Alexander Cameron (1810-1833)
- Rev. John Cameron (1833-1873)
- Rev. John Cowie (1873–1879)
- Rev. David McDonald (1879–1903)
- Rev. John Woods (1903–1909)
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. James Humble (1909–1940)
- Rev. Dr James Connolly (1940-1952)
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Philip Flanagan (1952-1960)
- Rev. Daniel Patrick Boyle (1960-1965)
- Rev. Maurice Taylor (1965-1974)
- Very Rev. John Canon Walls (1974-1981)
- Rev. John McGee (1981-1987)
- Rev. Ian Murray (1987-1994)
- Rev. William Dunnachie (1994-1997)
- Rev. Denis E. Carlin (1997-2004)
- Rt. Rev. Mgr. Joseph Toal (2005-2008)
- Rev. Charles O'Farrell (2009-2014)
- Rev. Thomas A. Kilbride (2014–present)
Notable alumni
- Angus Chisholm (1759/60-1818), Vicar Apostolic of the Highland District
- Angus Bernard MacEachern (1759-1835), first Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
- Alexander Macdonnell (1762-1840), Bishop of Kingston
- William Fraser (1779-1851), Bishop of Arichat
- John Murdoch (1796-1865), Vicar Apostolic of the Western District
- 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), priest, folklorist, and poet in the Scottish Gaelic language. One of the most important figures in 19th century Scottish Gaelic literature.
- Donald Martin (1873-1938), Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
- William Hart (1904-1992), Bishop of Dunkeld
- James Monaghan (1914-1994), Auxiliary Bishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh
- Ian Murray (1932-2016), Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
- Joseph Toal (born 1956), Bishop of Motherwell
See also
In Spanish: Royal Scots College para niños
- Scots College (Rome)
- Scots College (Paris)
