Patrick Hepburn
| Patrick Hepburn | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Moray | |
 |
|
| See | Diocese of Moray |
| In office | 1538–1573 |
| Predecessor | Alexander Stewart |
| Successor | George Douglas |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1538 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1487 Probably East Lothian |
| Died | 20 June 1573 1476, Spynie Castle |
| Previous post | Prior of St Andrews |
Patrick Hepburn (1487 – 20 June 1573) was a 16th-century Scottish prelate. He was born in East Lothian, went to St Andrews University, entered the church, and then exploited his family connections to become Prior of St Andrews and royal secretary. Hepburn moved on to become Bishop of Moray and Commendator of Scone and played an ambiguous role in the Scottish Reformation. During this time he held a notorious reputation for immorality. He was deprived of his ecclesiastical titles two years before his death in 1573.
Born to Patrick Hepburn of Beinstoun and Christian née Ogilvie in 1487, he entered the college now known as St Mary's College, St Andrews - then called simply "The Pedagogy" - in 1509. After graduating, he chose an ecclesiastical career and became parson of Whitsome from 1521. On 10 June 1524 Patrick, as a secular clerk, was appointed by Pope Clement VII as coadjutor to his uncle John Hepburn, Prior of St Andrews. This meant he would assist his aged uncle as prior and succeed him as commendator when he died. The coadjutorship gave Patrick a seat in parliament, which he took up in 1525; he became secretary of King James V of Scotland, a position he held between March 1525 and through to June 1526. Patrick succeeded his uncle when the latter died on 15 January 1526.
After the death of Alexander Stewart, Bishop of Moray and Commendator of Scone, Patrick was given crown nomination to succeed to both positions on 1 March 1538. He was provided by the Papacy on 14 June, on the condition he should resign the commend of St Andrews Cathedral Priory. Hepburn's episcopate is remembered as notorious for the dilapidation with which his dominions suffered. A huge percentage of his diocese was leased out, and in 1547 Scone Abbey itself went on a 19-year lease to one John Erskine of Dun. Meanwhile, Bishop Hepburn enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle. As early as 1529, when Hepburn was Commendator-Prior of St Andrews, Alexander Alesius, a canon of this Hepburn's own priory was preaching against Hepburn's ungodly lifestyle.
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