The reason Glaswegians are so grateful to 12th century churchman

Glasgow Times

3 days ago

This was a huge turning point for Glasgow, and its future as a thriving, modern metropolis was set in motion. This year, the city is celebrating its 850th anniversary.
But who was Jocelin, the Bishop upon whom William of Lion, King of Scotland, bestowed this honour?
Born in 1134, Jocelin was a Cistercian monk, based at Melrose Abbey during the 1160s.
In 1170 he was appointed to be the fourth abbot there, a post he held for four years.
In February 1174, on the death of the then Bishop, Jocelin was appointed to be the Bishop of Glasgow by the clergy, 'the people requesting and the king consenting' on May 23, 1174.
The bishopric survived claims from the Bishop of St Andrews who considered himself 'Bishop of the Scots' and by longstanding claims by the Archbishops of York to subject the Scottish bishops to their authority.
In 1175, Jocelin obtained a papal exemption from the authority of any bishop or archbishop, safeguarding him from any such claims, declaring the bishopric of Glasgow to be a 'special daughter of the Holy See.' That is, subject directly to Rome - a privilege later extended to the whole of the Scottish Church.
City Charters showing Burgh Charter (Image: Scottish Catholic Collection Trust)
This papal bull was confirmed in 1181 by Pope Lucius III when Jocelin travelled to Rome to appeal, on King William's behalf, against the King's excommunication by the Pope in an argument about the succession to the bishopric of St Andrews.
Jocelin played a major role not only on the settlement that grew up around Glasgow Cathedral but in wider town and diocesan affairs. In about 1180. Jocelin commissioned a new Life of Kentigern from a monk of Furness, in Lancashire, whose name was also Jocelin.
The purpose of getting his namesake to compile a biography of St Kentigern was to rouse enthusiasm over Glasgow's patron saint.
Extract from Life of St Mungo (Image: Glasgow City Archives)
He intended to create a powerful cult around St Mungo; helping to avoid any future threat of having to succumb to the supremacy of the Archbishop of York; and promoting the collection of funds for the erection of the church which was to be so intimately associated with his name.
In terms of the cathedral, Jocelin began the erection of a nave as an addition to the already existing choir, but before 1189 and before the work was far advanced, it was interrupted by a fire.
Bishop Jocelin took energetic measures to raise funds for its restoration. There is contemporary evidence as to what was happening around the rebuilding a few years later. Acting with the cooperation or counsel of the abbots, priors and other clergy in the bishopric, Jocelin was raising funds and promoting the rebuilding of the cathedral.
Jocelin seal (Image: Glasgow City Archives)
Jocelin secured large accessions of property throughout the kingdom with a view to the rebuilding of his cathedral, which had been destroyed by fire. His commission of a new life of Glasgow's patron saint was to excite public interest, and he procured a royal injunction that the undertaking should receive general support throughout the kingdom.
On July 6, 1197, the 24th year of his episcopacy, Jocelin dedicated the new cathedral church. It was consecrated by Jocelin, with two other bishops assisting. It was not, however, completed for many years afterwards.
Bishop Jocelin died on March 17, 1199 at his old abbey of Melrose and was buried there in the monk's choir.
His 25-year tenure as Bishop of Glasgow was highly successful in promoting the best interests, both civil and spiritual, of the wide district over which he exercised his authority.
Of all his endeavours perhaps the most permanently beneficial was the establishment of a burgh at Glasgow - the foundation charter of Glasgow's greatness, but the matters which attracted most attention in his own day were probably those connected with ecclesiastical affairs throughout the bishopric, and, most prominent of all, the rebuilding of the cathedral.
And in one other way, Jocelin left a great legacy for the city. Glaswegians will be ever grateful that in the early 1190s he persuaded the king to granted Glasgow an annual fair.
Its original emphasis was on trade, primarily of horse, cattle and produce markets, first held within the boundaries of Glasgow Cathedral, but its focus later shifted to entertainment - circuses, fairground rides, shows and amusements – and Glasgow's industrialists gave their workers their annual holiday during the week of the Fair.
The Glasgow Fair Fortnight may not be as religiously observed as it once was, when the entire city closed down and everyone went on holiday, but it remains a tradition held dear to this day.