ON SS. BRADAN AND ORORA, AND ON OTHER SAINTS FORMERLY VENERATED ON THE ISLE OF MAN IN THE IRISH SEA,
PERHAPS BEFORE THE 7TH CENTURY.
COLLECTION.
Bradan, on the Isle of Man (S.)
Orora, on the Isle of Man (S.)
V. D. B
Sole §. The various fortunes of the bishopric of Man, or of Sodor; to which ecclesiastical provinces it belonged; the Saints formerly venerated on the Isle of Man; their memory surviving in sacred buildings.
[The ecclesiastical state of the Isle of Man from the time of St. Patrick until the coming of the Norwegian pirates;] On the occasion of SS. Bradan and Orora, whose memory is kept today, it pleases us to review all the Saints who were formerly venerated on the Isle of Man, and before all to set out the fortunes of the bishopric of this island. The Isle of Man was formerly called Monoeda, Monabia, Menavia, Mevania, Eubonia, Menaw, by its inhabitants Maning, by the English and others Man Compare Camden, in Langebek, Scriptores rerum Danicarum, vol. III, p. 239., and it is to be carefully distinguished from the island Mona, now called the Island of the English or Anglesey; for the rest, Man and Mona were sometimes called by one word the Menavian or Mevanian islands [Compare Pinkerton, Enquiry into the history of Scotland, vol. II, p. 304, edition 1814.]. At first it was occupied by the Scots; to whom (I omit the troop of fabulous ones Compare Ussher, Antiquitates ecclesiae Britannicae, p. 339, edition 1687.) St. Germanus is read to have been given as first bishop in the 5th century, of whom our Sollerius said some things at the 3rd day of July Acta SS., vol. I of July, p. 667.; and whose labour for implanting the faith of Christ in the souls of the Manx two other holy bishops continued in the same century, Conindrus or Conderius and Romulus or Romailus, and then St. Maccaldus or Magaile and St. Conannus or Mochonna [Lanigan, Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. I, p. 301 and following. Colgan, Acta SS. Hiberniae, vol. I, p. 59 and following. Ussher, Antiquitates ecclesiae Britannicae, p. 336.]. About the year 620, when Man held about three hundred families, Edwin, king of Northumbria, on the testimony of Bede, subjected the Mevanian islands to himself Compare Pinkerton, vol. II, p. 304.; but he did not expel the former inhabitants, since most of them even now use the ancient language of the Scots or Irish, with some Norwegian and English words mixed in [Compare Camden in Langebek, vol. III, p. 240, and Carlisle, Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, under Man.], and since several patrons of the churches (as will be seen below) belong to the Irish or Scottish nation, not to the English. Nor does anything seem to have been changed at that time in the administration of ecclesiastical affairs, since most certainly the clergy was Scottish or Irish; and accordingly it is to be thought that the abbot of the island of Iona, with whom lay the metropolitan power over the Scottish churches, was also the ecclesiastical ruler of Man. That stable bishops sat there at that time, however, is not credible, since no traces remain, and since the episcopal functions could be sufficiently ministered by the wandering Scottish bishops, than whom nothing is better known in ecclesiastical history.
[2] [after the desolation of Man, the diocese of Sodor, comprising nearly the Hebrides, is instituted in the 12th century under the archbishop of York;] But after the monastery of St. Columba at Iona was destroyed by the Norman pirates in the year 801, so that the abbot dwelt for the most part in Ireland until the year 1080 Pinkerton, vol. II, p. 268., and after, in the middle of the 9th century, the Norwegian pirates likewise devastated Man and exhausted it at their pleasure, until Harold Harsagre, king of Norway, about the year 910 occupied it and handed it to earls to be administered according to certain laws Ibid., vol. II, p. 294 and following, everyone understands how sad was the condition of sacred affairs in Man in this age. It could indeed afterwards be restored for a while Compare Münter, Kirchengeschichte von Dänemark und Norwegen, vol. I, p. 554.; nevertheless the bishopric of Man ceased until the 12th century; in which, between the years 1130 and 1139, Wimund, a monk of Savigny, was consecrated the first bishop by the archbishop of York. This new bishopric comprised not only Man and Mona, but also almost all the Ebudae or Hebrides (compare V. Spruner, Atlas, no. 30), because they were then reckoned one kingdom; and he who held the ecclesiastical government was called sometimes bishop of Man, sometimes of Schid or of Skye (which is one of the chief Hebrides), more often of the Isles, but commonly of Sodor. Of which last appellation this is the reason: when the Norwegians sailed from their country to the western side of Scotland and England, they had before them to the north of England the Orkney islands, below them the Hebrides, which, with reference to the Orkneys or (as others will have it) to the northern Ebudae, they called the Southern Isles, or Sudreyia in the Icelandic language Compare Annales Islandici regii, in Langebek, vol. III, p. 77 and passim., and Södereyer in the Norwegian Münter, vol. I, p. 553..
[3] [In the year 1152 the diocese of Sodor passes under the metropolitan of Nidaros, by whom the bishops are consecrated until the 14th century;] While these things were being done, controversies had long since been raging between the archbishop of York and the Scots, to submit their necks to his metropolitan jurisdiction
refusing; which were also the cause why the bishopric of Sodor passed from the province of York to that of Nidaros (Drontheim) in Norway. For since the kings of Norway held the supreme rule of the Hebrides and of Man, and it pleased them no more than the kings of Scotland to acknowledge the authority of the archbishop of York, and so they had refused to admit Ralph, bishop of the Orkneys, consecrated by Thurstan of York [Compare the letter of Callistus II, in Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. VIII, p. 1186, no. XLV.], and had afterwards intruded another Compare the letter of Honorius II, ibid., no. XLIV., probably inaugurated in Norway; and since moreover many attempts were being made to have an archbishopric established in Norway Münter, vol. II, part I, p. 92 and following, there was sent into Norway as legate Nicholas Breakspear, bishop of Albano, afterwards Pope Hadrian IV, who, by the office entrusted to him, established the archbishopric of Nidaros with nine suffragans; among whom that of Sodor [Compare the Bull of Anastasius IV, in Thorkelin, Diplomatarium Arna-Magnaeanum, vol. II, p. 3 and following]. And this matter was carried through in the year 1152 Finnus Johannaeus, Historia ecclesiastica Islandiae, vol. I, p. 287, note b. and confirmed by Anastasius IV, and then often ratified, namely by Alexander III, Clement III and Innocent III In Bréquigny, book VIII, epistle CCXIV., who recalls the bulls of his predecessors. This state of affairs persevered until the middle of the 14th century, although Reginald, king of Man, in the year 1205 and the following did homage to the king of England Compare Langebek, vol. III, p. 225, note g, p. 226, notes l and o. and in the year 1219 offered himself and his lands to Pope Honorius III in fief and protection [Compare the letter of King Reginald in Raynaldus, Annales ecclesiastici at the year 1219, no. 44.], and although in the year 1266 Magnus, king of Norway, ceded the same islands to Alexander III, king of Scotland Langebek, vol. III, p. 236 and following, note f.. It is worth while, however, to observe that the name of the bishop of Sodor nowhere comes in the disciplinary decrees and other documents of that kind pertaining to the province of Nidaros, which exist in great number in the Ecclesiastical History of Iceland of Finnus Johannaeus; but on the contrary, in the Constitutions which Mark, prelate of Sodor, promulgated in the year 1291, the custom of the English church and of ours is invoked [In Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 254, chapter on excommunication four times a year.]. Nevertheless, until the 14th century all the bishops of Sodor were consecrated by the archbishop of Nidaros; so that William Russell was the first to depart from this order, consecrated at Avignon by Pope Clement VI in the year 1348 Compare the Chronicle of Man in Ussher, Antiquitates, p. 339..
[4] [to which province that diocese then belonged is doubtful: but in the year 1471 it is assigned to the new province of St. Andrews] And at this time new changes were made. Within the earlier part of the 12th century, namely, the prelate of Sodor was elected by decree of the king of the Isles and with the advice of the people [Compare the letter of Olaf, in Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. VIII, p. 1186, no. XLVII.]; then, by grant of Olaf and Godred, kings of Man, through the abbey of Furness [Compare the Bull of Pope Celestine, in Gough, Camden's Britannia, vol. III, p. 701.], afterwards by the clergy of the Isle of Man, as is expressly read of William Russell Chronicle of Man in Ussher, Antiquitates, p. 339.; but afterwards the bishops were designated by the Roman pontiff and sometimes consecrated by him himself Münter, vol. II, part I, p. 99, from Johnstone, Antiquitates, p. 47.. Whether these acknowledged the archbishop of Nidaros or the archbishop of York as metropolitan, or whether they were immediately subject to the Holy See, or rather whether the manner of subjection was uncertain and varying, there is room for doubt [Compare Wadding, Annales Minorum at the year 1425, no. 8, vol. X, p. 89, edition 1734; ibid., at the year 1455, no. 89, vol. XII, p. 300.]. But by the examination of this matter we should be led too far from our path. It remains, then, for us to declare in a few words how the Isles passed under the authority of the metropolitans of Scotland. The controversies between the Scottish bishops and the archbishop of York, raging in the 12th century, which we touched upon at number 3, Pope Clement III had so settled in the year 1188 that he subjected nine Scottish dioceses immediately to the Holy See [Compare the letter of Clement III in Baronius at 1188, no. 21, and Pagi's Critica at 1192, no. 2.]. This state of affairs persevered until the middle of the 15th century, when amid the tumults of wars the prelate of York, after many vain attempts, at length extended his authority over the Scots, and (if I am not mistaken) over Sodor too Spondanus, Annales ecclesiastici at the year 1466, no. 7.. But at Rome Patrick Graham, elected bishop of St. Andrews, opposed it, who in the years 1471 [Miraeus, Notitia Episcopatuum, p. 239; Polydore Vergil, Historia Anglica, book XXIV, p. 663, edition 1661.] and the following Raynaldus, Continuation of the Annals of Baronius, at the year 1472, no. 17. obtained two bulls by which the see of St. Andrews was ordered to be metropolitan and the twelve remaining bishops of Scotland to be suffragans Spondanus, at 1472, nos. 16 and 18.; among whom that of Sodor Polydore Vergil, book XXIV, p. 663.. In the month of September of the year 1474 this pontifical decree was publicly promulgated John Lesley, De Origine, moribus et rebus gestis Scotorum, book VIII, p. 305., to the resentment of the other bishops; who, burning with grave hatred against Graham, repudiated his authority Ibid., in the place cited; and indeed Husmann, discharging a pontifical legation in Scotland in the year 1477, deposed him, accused of many crimes. In the following year, therefore, William Scheves was substituted in Graham's place Ibid., p. 306.; who, when in the year 1487 he had come to the apostolic see to render, in the name of James III, viceroy of the Scots, obedience to Innocent VIII, not long since promoted, was increased with a new honour by the pontiff, being created primate of Scotland and legatus natus Compare Raynaldus at the year 1487, no. 32..
[5] and in the year 1487 to the new one of Glasgow. On this occasion I judge that the ecclesiastical province of Glasgow too was instituted, torn away from that of St. Andrews. In very truth I dissent in this from all the other writers whom I know: but a certain reason urges me. For the dimissory letters which Innocent VIII gave in the year 1487, on the 4th day before the Nones of June, in the 3rd year of his pontificate, for informations concerning Margaret, queen of Scotland, to be referred among the Saints, are inscribed to our venerable brothers the archbishop of St. Andrews and the bishop of Glasgow, etc. Ibid., at the year 1487, no. 26.; by which the assertions collapse of Miraeus Notitia episcopatuum, p. 334., who refers the beginnings of the archbishopric of Glasgow to the times of Sixtus IV, of an anonymous Scot [In Wilkins, Spelman's Concilia, vol. III, p. 607, and in Labbe, Councils, vol. XIII, col. 1445.] who marks the year 1471, and of Carlisle Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, under Glascow. who puts the year 1484. And that one must not go with Gough Camden's Britannia, vol. III, p. 334. into the opinion of Keith, who writes the year 1500, is no less manifest, since in the year 1491 the prelate of Glasgow certainly enjoyed the rights of an archbishop, as is more than sufficiently established from the controversies which he had in that year with the prelate of St. Andrews about the authority of each Lesley, book VIII, p. 319.. Since, therefore, we are confined between the years 1478 and 1491, what is better than to refer the metropolitan rights of the see of Glasgow to the time at which the primacy of Scotland was instituted? Further, the province of Glasgow, cut off from that of St. Andrews, comprised three suffragan dioceses, among which came that of Sodor, as Miraeus Notitia, p. 218 and following, Charles de Saint-Paul Geographia sacra with the notes of Holstenius, p. 166., Spelman Concilia Britanniae, vol. III, p. 607, Wilkins' edition. and Von Spruner Atlas, no. 33. rightly have it.
[6] [About the year 1540, through the English schism, the diocese of Sodor is split into two parts; so that a diocese is constituted of Man alone under York, and the Hebrides follow the Scots.] And hence we come to the last fortunes of the diocese of Sodor before the schism, that is, to the division of the diocese of Sodor into two parts. Carlisle Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, under Man. sets this division at the year 1333, in which the Isle of Man came into the hands of the English. But that cannot be admitted, since it is certain from the Chronicle of Man In Ussher, Antiquitates, p. 339. that William Russel, whom we said was consecrated in the year 1348, was elected bishop of Sodor, or of the Isles, in the cathedral church of St. Germanus in Man in Holm; and in the same manner the succeeding bishops were called of Sodor, because all the Hebrides were subject to them; then after the year 1333, just as before [Compare the Letter of the Community of Scotland of the year 1290 to Edward, king of England, in Rymer, vol. I, part III, p. 66, with the Constitutions of Mark of Sodor in Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 253.], they were indiscriminately called now bishops of Sodor Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 256., now of Man, or even of Man in Scotland Compare Rymer, vol. II, part IV, pp. 86 and 87.; thirdly, in the Roman provincial printed at Rome in the year 1504, but collected some time before In Miraeus, Notitia episcopatuum, p. 64. and often printed afterwards Compare fol. verso 21, Paris edition 1545, and p. 33, Paris edition 1625., only the diocese of Sodor appears, by no means that of Man. I have no doubt, therefore, that this division is to be referred to the times of the reformation. Pope Hadrian VI ordered John Howden, of the Order of Preachers, professor of theology, to succeed Hugh on the 19th day of June of the year 1523, as we have from the bull of institution Bremond, Bullarium Ordinis Praedicatorum, vol. IV, p. 416.; whom I judge to have been the last catholic bishop. Hence, since the Hebrides followed the fortunes of Scotland and Man those of England, it came about that the Hebrides for a great part preserved the catholic faith Büsching, Erdbeschreibung, vol. II, part III, p. 2254., while Man drank in the poison of the schism Carlisle, Dictionary of Scotland, under Man.. Within this overturning of affairs Henry VIII willed in the 33rd year of his reign that the Isle of Man, of which alone the diocese called Man and Sodor consists, should belong to the province of York [Compare the letter of Henry III on the ordering of the bishopric of Man, in Rymer, vol. VI, part III, p. 133, and Gough, Camden's Britannia, vol. III, p. 701.], while by common law the islands which had kept the faith of the church unimpaired, under the care of the metropolitan
of Glasgow should pass. For which cause in the national council of Edinburgh of the year 1549 there is to be seen an act of ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the monastery of the island of St. Columba [Wilkins, Concilia Britanniae, vol. IV, p. 56; Mansi, supplement to Labbe's Councils, vol. V, col. 644.], which belonged to the diocese of Sodor, although the bishop of Man, being a schismatic, was absent. Continual changes thereafter in the ecclesiastical government of the schismatics of Scotland are commonly known. As regards the catholics, Innocent XII in the year 1695 placed Scotland and the adjacent islands under one vicar apostolic; in the year 1732 two vicariates were erected, and finally in the year 1827 three; of which the Western comprises the Hebrides Gerarchia della Santa Chiesa al I Gennaio 1851, p. 221.. In the Brief by which Pope Pius IX, on the 29th day of September of the year 1850, erected new episcopal sees, the island of Mona comes within the bounds of the diocese of Liverpool and Anglesey within that of Shrewsbury Ami de la Religion, 19 Oct. 1850, vol. CL, p. 165 and following; since the island Mona and Anglesey are one and the same Compare Gough, Camden's Britannia, vol. III, p. 697., both the necessity of distinguishing and the reason of the places urge that by Mona we understand Man. For the rest, Carlisle himself Dictionary of Scotland, under Man. and others are accustomed in Latin to designate Man by the name of Mona.
[7] SS. Germanus, Leoc, Melius or Lupus, Corebric, But now let us turn our pen to the Saints of the Isle of Man. Gough notes Camden's Britannia, vol. III, p. 700., and following him Carlisle Dictionary of Scotland, under Man., that each of the seventeen parishes of which the island consists has its own holy patrons. The cathedral church was under the patronage of St. Germanus, of whom it was spoken at number 1. It was situated in Holme Sodor or Pele Charter of Th. Derby, in Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 256.; which region was towards the west of the middle of the island. This church, built before the middle of the 13th century by Simon, bishop of Sodor, is described quite at length by Gough, the continuator of Camden Vol. III, p. 701 and following. From a bull of Eugenius III Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 250, given to John de Cawcnefield, abbot of Furness Ibid., p. 246., about the middle of the 12th century, an ancient monastery of St. Leoc is known, which seems to have existed in the midland in the southern part of the island. Here are the words: In Man, by gift of the noble man Olaf, king of the Isles, the lands of Carnecset as far as the monastery of St. Leoc with appurtenances … the village of St. Melius … the land of St. Corebric. Of the monastery of St. Leoc I find no other traces: the village of St. Melius seems to be represented by the church of St. Malewus or Kirkmalew, of which mention is made in the Account of the ministers of Henry VIII Ibid., p. 256. and in the topographical Dictionary of Carlisle Under S. Malew., and which in the topographical maps of Gough Vol. III, p. 704. and Bleau Camden's Anglia, p. 380. is called St. Malus; according to Gough Vol. III, p. 700. St. Malewus must be the same as St. Lupus, companion of St. Germanus of Auxerre. The land of St. Corebric undoubtedly occupied the place of the present Kirkkerbrey or Kirkarbory, which is seen in the cited maps. More about these Saints we do not know. Of the abbey of Rushen or Bala-Salla and the cell of Mirescog, both of the Cistercian order, we shall declare some things below at the Acts of BB. Geoffrey and Serlo. In the maps of Gough and Bleau, below Douglas-Town to the east of the island, a church is seen to which The Nunry is ascribed, and in the midland to the south Friry Bewmakan; of the convent of nuns nothing further is known. Bewmakan is called by Tanner Becmachen, founded in the year 1373 for the Friars Minor Carlisle, under Kirk-Arbory.
[8] [Andrew, Michael, Lomanus, Maccaldus, Catherine, John, Patrick, Brigilla, Columba, Anna, Onca and perhaps Marona and Jarnam,] Let us return to the churches and chapels. To the north and to the south you have churches of Christ, the one Kirk Christ Lezayre, the other Kirk Christ Rushen; the latter formerly in the hands of the abbey of Rushen Account of the Ministers, in Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 256., the former in the hands of the bishop Charter of Th. Derby, ibid., in the place cited. The church of St. Andrew, Kirk Andreas, to the north, is said to be the most ancient temple of the whole island Ibid., under Kirk-Andreas.. To the patronage of St. Michael was dedicated a very small island on the eastern side; and on the western side, towards the north, was the village of Thokel, which by another name is called Kyrkemychel Limits of the lands, etc., in Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 256.. Its church was honoured in the year 1350 by a synod which bishop William Russell celebrated in it Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 255.. St. Lomanus gave his name to Kirklonan, or simply Lonan Carlisle, under Lonan., formerly called Kirkelewnam Account of the Ministers, Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 256., to the east of the middle of the island. The Holy Trinity was the title of a church in Leayre Charter of Th. Derby, ibid., in the place cited, which is perhaps the same as St. Trinion's Church in the middle of the island Gough, vol. III, p. 703.. St. Maccaldus, of whom it was spoken at number 1, gave his name to the church of St. Maccaldus Cited charter of Th. Derby., commonly called Kirk Maughold Carlisle, under Kirk-Maughold., on the eastern side towards the north. On the opposite side towards the south there is seen in the topographical maps the chapel of St. Catherine, and a little above the chapel of St. John. Of Kirk Balalough, on the western shore towards the north, the patroness was Blessed Mary Cited charter of Th. Derby.. St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, besides other modes of veneration Compare the same charter., had there two churches on the western side: and St. Brigid, likewise not a little celebrated among the Irish, had a temple of her name to the north, now called Kirk Bride Carlisle, under Kirk-Bride.. The land of St. Columba, which is called Here, is read in the charter of Thomas Derby, and in the account of the ministers of king Henry VIII Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 256. Kirkeharbert, otherwise the farm rectory of St. Columba; this I judge was formerly situated to the north. Kirke Saynton Ibid., in the place cited, or simply Santon Carlisle, under Santon., on the eastern side towards the south, is said to be dedicated to St. Anna Ibid., in the place cited, king of the East Angles, whose praises are celebrated by the Venerable Bede and whose memory is made on the 9th day of December Memorial of British piety, p. 169.. Kirk Marown, which in certain maps is written Kirk Mortown and is situated in the middle of the island, is called in Derby's charter Kirk Marona; in old maps there is likewise seen Kirk Jarnam towards the middle of the island to the west; someone will perhaps suspect that Marona and Jarnam are derived from the names of Saints. Kirk Oncan, Kirk Conchan or simply Oncan had taken its name from St. Onca, mother of St. Patrick Carlisle, under Oncan, and lies to the east above Douglas. To this troop of Saints whom Man formerly venerated the British Martyrology adds Memorial of British piety, p. 99. at the 3rd day of July SS. Contentus, Bladus and Malchus, formerly bishops on this island.
[9] and also SS. Bradan and Orora were formerly venerated on the Isle of Man. It remains finally for us to speak of SS. Bradan and Orora, on whose occasion we have brought all these things together. The author of the English Martyrology Ibid., p. 147. celebrates the memory of both at this day: On the Isle of Man, he says, the commemoration of SS. Bradan and Orora, formerly venerated in two churches which still retain their name. Certainly there still exists Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. V, p. 253. the church of St. Bradan, called Kirk Brodon or Kirk Braddan, to the east near Douglas; and in it Mark, bishop of Sodor, celebrated a synod in the year 1291 Ibid., p. 256.; and Thomas Derby, in his oft-cited charter of the year 1505, twice mentions the church of St. Bradan and once the land of St. Bradan, which he confirms to Huan, bishop of Sodor Carlisle, under Kirk-Braddan.. In no maps or topographical descriptions have I found the church of St. Orora recorded; it existed, however, at the beginning of the 16th century, to the north (if I am not mistaken), since in the charter of Thomas Derby we read: The churches of St. Patrick of Jourby (to the north) with the church of St. Crora; by which St. Crora it is an undoubted matter that St. Orora is represented. But, as I have warned, no further trace or memory of this temple seems to survive. More I find neither of St. Bradan nor of St. Orora. But I will not lay down my pen without warning the reader that everywhere the islands of Scotland, part of Scotland itself, and the whole western side of England abound in Saints of whom for the most part only the names have so far become known. Yet ancient Commentaries about them seem to lie hidden. Let these at length come forth some day, so that it may be plain to all how many graces the good God once poured out upon the island of the Saints.