[MR] Wikipedia: Death of Jocelin, Bishop of Glasgow

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots,

On this date in 1199, the former Bishop of Glasgow, Jocelin, died at
Melrose Abbey. Jocelin is one of the most important churchmen of 12th
century Scotland, and his influence still can be seen today.

Jocelin began his religious career at Melrose Abbey, where he became a monk
under Abbot Waltheof (1095-1159). Jocelin became Prior of Melrose under
Waltheof's successor Abbot William, then succeeded William in 1170. As
Abbot of Melrose, Jocelin supported the growing cult of Saint Waltheof.
Pilgrimage to Waltheof's shrine made Melrose the richest abbey in Scotland
during Jocelin's tenure.

In 1174, Jocelin was promoted to Bishop of Glasgow. Among his
accomplishments as Bishop was a royal charter for the town of Glasgow,
making it a self-governing burg with its own market. He was also
responsible for gaining Glasgow the right to hold an annual fair, which
continues to this day.

Glasgow's small cathedral church was enlarged, twice actually, since the
first rebuilding was destroyed by fire. Small traces of Jocelin's
Romanesque building survive in the current Gothic cathedral, particularly
the crypt. Jocelin also promoted the growing cult of Saint Kentigern (aka
Saint Mungo), generally credited with being Glasgow's founder and first
bishop. Pilgrimage to Glasgow Cathedral housing Saint Kentigern's shrine
became the third most important pilgrimage in Scotland (following Saint
Andrew's Cathedral and Whithorn Priory). It was Jocelin who commissioned
one of the vitae of Saint Kentigern, written by Jocelin of Furness.

By 1199, Jocelin knew he was dying, and returned to his beloved Melrose
Abbey. It isn't clear if he resigned his Glasgow see. Upon his passing on
Saint Patrick's Day, Jocelin was entombed at Melrose.

His Wikipedia biography is here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jocelin_of_Glasgow .

Note the drawing near the end of his page showing the crypt below the
current Glasgow cathedral. That platform between the columns marks what is
believed to be the tomb of Saint Kentigern. The upper parts of the tomb
were destroyed by Protestant iconoclasts in the late 1500s, but they left
the slab and the grave beneath it alone.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆