John Skinner (bishop)

John Skinner (17 May 1744 – 13 July 1816) was an Anglican clergyman who served as the Bishop of Aberdeen from 1786 to 1816 and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church from 1788 to 1816.

The Most Reverend John Skinner
Bishop of Aberdeen Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Church	Scottish Episcopal Church
Diocese	Aberdeen
In office	1786-1816
Predecessor	Robert Kilgour
Successor	William Skinner
Other posts	Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (1788-1816)
Orders
Ordination	1764
Consecration	25 September 1782 by Robert Kilgour
Personal details
Born	May 17, 1744 Longside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Died	July 13, 1816 (aged 72) Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	John Skinner & Grissel Hunter
Spouse	Mary Robertson
Children	8
Alma mater	Marischal College

Styles of John Skinner, A.M.
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Grace

Early life and family

He was born at Linshart, Longside, Aberdeenshire on 17 May 1744, the second son of the Reverend John Skinner, Incumbent of Lerwick and Grissel Hunter.[1][2] He was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen; obtaining a Master of Arts degree in 1761.[1] He married in 1765 to Mary Robertson (1736–1807), and they had five sons and three daughters.[1] One of their sons, John (1769–1841), became Dean of Dunkeld and Dunblane, and another son, William (1778–1857), became Bishop of Aberdeen.[1]

Ecclesiastical career

He was ordained a deacon in 1763 and a priest in 1764.[1] His first pastoral appointment was as the Incumbent of Ellon and Udny (1764–1775), and then the Incumbent of Aberdeen (1775–1816), a post he held until his death.[1][2] Skinner was appointed coadjutor bishop of Aberdeen and consecrated on 25 September 1782 by bishops Kilgour, Rose and Petrie.[1][3] He was one of the three bishops to consecrate Samuel Seabury, an American Episcopal priest as a bishop in 1784.[1] On the resignation of Bishop Robert Kilgour, Skinner became Bishop of Aberdeen in October 1786.[1][4] Two years later, he also became the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church.[1]

He died in office in Aberdeen on 13 July 1816, aged 72, and was buried at Spital, Old Aberdeen.[1][5] He was succeeded by his son, William, as Bishop of Aberdeen.

References

1. Bertie 2000, Scottish Episcopal Clergy, p. 439.
2. Keith 1824, An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops, p. 534.
3. Keith 1824, An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops, pp. 534–535.
4. A Short History to the Episcopal Church in Scotland (revised edition - 1974) F. Goldie, pp. 69/70
5. Keith 1824, An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops, p. 535.

Bibliography

• Bertie, David M. (2000). Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689–2000. Edinburgh: T & T Clark. ISBN 0567087468.
• Keith, Robert (1824). Russel, Michael (ed.). An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down To The Year 1688. Edinburgh: Printed for Bell and Bradfute.
• Scottish Episcopal Church History "Scottish Episcopal Church History: A Moment in the Century: Persecution and an Argument are Over." Contains information about John Skinner.