James Haldenston

James Haldenston
Ruins of St Andrews Cathedral Priory
Born	Late 14th century (likely) Eastern Fife (likely)
Died	18 July 1443 St Andrews
Occupation	Augustinian Prior
Title	Prior of St Andrews (and, earlier, Prior of May) Also Dean of Theology, St Andrews

James Haldenston or James Haldenstoun (died 18 July 1443) was an Augustinian churchman from 15th-century Scotland. Probably from somewhere in eastern Fife, Haldenston became an Augustinian at St Andrews, earned several degrees on the continent, and became prior of May before becoming prior of St Andrews, head of the wealthiest and most important religious house in Scotland.

Haldenston's origin is unclear. His surname is spelled variously as "Halenston", "Haldenson", "Hawdenston", "Haddistoun", "Haldestoun" and "Aldeston", and it is attested in eastern Fife in the 1380s and 1390s. He had a brother called Andrew, who witnessed two of his charters in the 1430s, and a kinsman by the name of Robert de Kinmounth (or Kininmund, as in Alexander de Kinimund, Bishop of Aberdeen 1355–1380).

James was a Bachelor of theology by 17 September 1412, and a Master in Theology by 21 June 1414. By 1417 he had a doctorate in theology. He was probably a graduate of the University of Paris, It is likely that he had become a canon of St Andrews Cathedral Priory before going to France for his studies. He certainly was a St Andrews canon as early as 1407, when he had some right to the position of prior of May. Haldenston was probably a client of Henry Wardlaw, Bishop of St Andrews (1403–1440), who supported his candidature for May and for his later offices.

He had intermittent possession of the office of prior of May for over a decade, litigating for the right with his rival William Nory. He had some right by September 1407, but Nory was the expected successor of Robert de Leuchars, and it is unclear to what extent Haldenston ever enjoyed possession of the office or its fruits. The battle involved trips to the papal court and an armed attack on the priory's manor at Pittenweem by Nory's followers. The priory of May had been located formerly on an island in the Firth of Forth, but by this time was at Pittenweem on the nearby Fife coast.

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