by Gavin Dunbar (1518-32) and provided the spires on the west towers. Dunbar was also responsible for the armorial adorned ceiling in the nave which displayed the coat-of-arms of the pontiff, the Scottish prelates and leading European rulers Religious houses The cathedral, parish churches and hospitals came under the jurisdiction of the bishop. The monasteries were largely independent of the episcopacy but still needed the bishop if any of the brothers needed to be ordained to the priesthood. The houses may also from time to time receive patronage from the bishop and chapter. The cathedral Bishops Nectan, fl. 1131/2 Edward, fl 1147/51-1171 Matthew, 1172-1199 John, 1199-1207 Adam de Kalder, 1207-1228 Matthew Scot, postulated 1228 Gilbert de Stirling, 1228-39 Radulf de Lambley, 1239-47 Peter de Ramsey, 1247-56 Richard de Potton, 1256-70 or 1272 Hugh de Benin, 1272-82 Henry le Chen, 1282-1328 Walter Herok, elect and provided but not consecrated, 1329 Alexander de Kyninmund (I), 1329-1344 William de Deyn, 1344-1350 John Rait, 1350-1354/5 Alexander de Kyninmund (II), 1355-80 Simon de Ketenis, elected 1380 but not provided Adam de Tynyngham, 1380-9 Gilbert de Greenlaw, 1390-1421 Henry de Lychton, 1422-1440 translated from Moray Ingram Lindsay, 1441-58 Thomas Spens, 1457-80 translated from Galloway Robert Blackadder, 1480-83 William Elphinstone, 1483-1514 translated from Ross Alexander Gordon, 1514/15-18 Robert Forman, before 1515-16 Gavin Dunbar, 1518-32 George Learmond, 1529-31 William Stewart, 1532-45 William Gordon, 1545-77 Cathedral chapter The development of Aberdeen's chapter was lengthy even though the papal bull of 1157 gave Bishop Edward permission to institute a chapter of secular or monastic clerics. The first signs of chapter enlargement became apparent when a cleric designated as a 'canon' is seen witnessing an act by Bishop John (1199-1207). His successor, Bishop Kalder (1207-1228), had many canons acting as members of synodal sittings witnessing his episcopal edicts and with an archdeacon as the senior cleric. Bishop Stirling (1228-1239) continues this system but now this assembly is called a 'chapter' and has its own seal. A canon is now designated 'treasurer' but the dean is still subordinate to the archdeacon. By 1239, Bishop Lamley is elected at a meeting chaired by the dean although it appears that the archdeacon is still his senior. In c. 1239 a canon had been elevated to the dignity of precentor and then in 1240, a chancellor was now visible. In 1243 at a meeting of the chapter, it is evident that the dean was now