William Hay

Who was William Hay?

William Hay was a Scottish clergyman and prelate. He was educated at the University of Aberdeen. He entered the church, receiving holy orders from Patrick Scougal, Bishop of Aberdeen, and took control of Kilconquhar parish church in Fife. He soon moved on to Perth, and in early 1688 was selected to be Bishop of Moray. He was consecrated on 4 February 1688.

However, Hay's days as a bishop were not to last long. In the following year Bishop Hay, along with all other Scottish bishops, was deprived of his see. Hay refused to take an oath of fealty to King William and Queen Mary and was expelled from Spynie Palace, of which he was the last episcopal occupant. He died at Castlehill, near Inverness in 1707.