James Chisholm

Who was James Chisholm?

James Chisholm, Bishop of Dunblane, was the eldest son of Edmund Chisholm, the first Chisholm to own the estate of Cromlix in Dunblane parish, Strathearn, having moved from the Scottish Borders. In his early years as a clergyman, he was a chaplain to King James III of Scotland; the king apparently sent him to Rome for some time.

In 1482, after the resignation of Richard Forbes, James Chisholm became Dean of Aberdeen. From 1482 too, James was claiming to have received papal provision as Dean of Moray, an office he never seems to have gained possession of. He was still claiming the title when he was provided as Bishop of Dunblane on 31 January 1487. Chisholm was consecrated at an unknown date that fell between 11 July 1487 and 28 January 1488.

Chisholm's long episcopate saw, among other things, the disastrous Battle of Flodden, a growth in the resources available to the cathedral, the addition of nine new chaplainries to the choir, and the addition of parapets to the tower and choir of the cathedral. In 1526, James partially gave up the bishopric for his half-brother William Chisholm; on 6 June 1526, Pope Clement VII provided William to the bishopric.