Andrew Munro (bishop)

Andrew Munro
Aindréas Mac an Rothaich
Bishop of Ross (postulate)
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeDiocese of Ross
In office1440–1441
PredecessorJohn Bullock
SuccessorThomas Tulloch
Previous post(s)Archdeacon of Caithness
(1422–1451 × 1454)
Personal details
Diedbefore 24 October 1454

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.

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]

  1. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 286.
  2. ^ a b c d e Dowden, Bishops, p. 218; Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 268.
  3. ^ Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, pp. 286, 288.