Andrew Munro (bishop)

Andrew Munro (died before 24 October 1454) [de Munro, de Munroy], or Aindréas Mac an Rothaich as his Gaelic kindred name, was a Scottish churchman active in the 15th century, undoubtedly given his surname a native of Ross of Clan Munro.

Andrew Munro Aindréas Mac an Rothaich
Bishop of Ross (postulate)
Church	Roman Catholic Church
See	Diocese of Ross
In office	1440–1441
Predecessor	John Bullock
Successor	Thomas Tulloch
Personal details
Died	before 24 October 1454
Previous post	Archdeacon of Caithness (1422–1451 × 1454)

In either 1421 or 1422, he became Archdeacon of Ross on exchange with John de Inchmartin, and was issued a new papal provision on 6 October 1422; his provision was repeated on 11 March 1431.[1]

Following the death of John Bullock, Bishop of Ross, in either 1439 or 1440, Munro was postulated as Bullock's successor by the cathedral chapter; his postulation, rather than election, occurred because Munro had a "defect of birth", being the son of an unmarried woman and a priest.[2]

Despite much effort and expense, the postulation was rejected by Pope Eugenius IV, who provided instead Thomas Tulloch, the cathedral Dean.[2] In compensation, on 4 March 1441, Eugenius granted Munro a pension of £40, to be taken from the mensal revenues of the Bishop of Ross.[2]

Munro however sought confirmation of his postulation from the Anti-Pope, Felix V, at Basel in the Kingdom of Germany.[2] Felix V confirmed Munro's postulation on 30 May but it was not effective.[2] Munro is heard of again as the Commissary of the diocese of Ross in 1451, while still holding the archdeaconry; he had died by 24 October 1454.[3]

Notes

1. Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 286.
2. Dowden, Bishops, p. 218; Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 268.
3. Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, pp. 286, 288.

References

• Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
• Watt, D. E. R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)