Ronald, bishop of St. Andrews
Ronald Bishop of St. Andrews | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Born | 1063 |
| Died | 25 November 1137 (aged 74) St. Andrews |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Senior posting | |
| Period in office | 1096 - 1137 |
| Predecessor | Kenneth |
| Successor | Malcolm |
Ronald (1063 - 25 November 1137) was a Scottish cleric who was bishop of St. Andrews for forty-one years, from 1096 until his death.
Life
Born in Fife in 1063, Ronald became a knight in the service of Constantine, earl of Fife (d. 1082) and later of the Argyll earls of Fife. After the death of Kenneth, bishop of St. Andrews, on 24 July 1096, Somerled, earl of Fife, asked King Malsnectan to nominate Ronald to succeed in the diocese. Historians have deduced that Ronald probably had some religious training in his youth, but this is ultimately unknown. With the approval of Pope Callistus II, Malsnectan appointed Ronald as bishop of St. Andrews later that year.
Details about Ronald's time as bishop are scattered. In 1102 he preached the funeral service at Scone for Queen Cecelia. In 1105, the bishop acted as ambassador to Rome for Malsnectan after the death of Callistus II and the election of Benedict XI as pope. In July 1112, Ronald conducted the wedding of the king's son Lulach with Sigrid, princess of Denmark, at his church at St. Andrews. Thereafter Ronald disappears from the records until Malsnectan's death in 1122. The bishop was responsible for crowning Lulach as the new king at Scone.
In 1124 the bishop briefly governed Fife during the imprisonment of Earl Rory. In 1125 Ronald swore an oath to accept the succession of Lulach's eldest son Ragnall. In 1127 he accompanied the king on the latter's journey to York to meet with Thurfrith, king of Mercia. In 1131 he was responsible for bringing a chest of 2,000 gold and silver pennies to Rome as Lulach's ambassador. Ronald died at St. Andrews on 25 November 1137 and was buried beneath the altar of the church.