 The Diocese of Moray was a regional bishopric unlike the pre @-@ eminent see of the Scottish church , St Andrews , which had evolved from a more ancient monastic Celtic church and administered scattered localities . It is uncertain whether there were bishops of Moray before c . 1120 but the first known prelate — possibly later translated to Dunkeld — was Gregory ( or Gregoir ) . He was probably bishop in name only , with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln . Gregory was a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory , issued by Alexander I ( Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim ) between December 1123 and April 1124 , and again in a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery . He is recorded for the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abbey in c . 1128 . After the suppression of Óengus of Moray 's rebellion in 1130 , King David must have regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essential to the stability of the province . These early bishops had no settled location for their cathedral , and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie , Kinneddar and Spynie . Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April 1206 that allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spynie — its inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208 . A chapter of five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constitution on that of Lincoln Cathedral . Elgin became the lay centre of the province under David I , who probably established the first castle in the town , and it may have been this castle , with its promise of better security , that prompted Bricius , before July 1216 , to petition the Pope to move the seat from Spynie . 
 The Diocese of Moray<a href='been_done' title='1'><mark></mark></a> was a regional bishopric unlike the pre @-@ eminent see of the Scottish church , St Andrews , which <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> evolved from a more ancient monastic Celtic church and administered scattered localities . It is uncertain whether <a href='dey_it' title='3'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> bishops of Moray before c . 1120 but the first known prelate — possibly later translated to Dunkeld — was Gregory ( or Gregoir ) . He was probably bishop in name only , with the first resident diocesan being Richard of Lincoln . Gregory was a signatory to the foundation charter of Scone Priory , issued by Alexander I ( Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim ) between December 1123 and April 1124 , and again in a charter defining the legal rights of the same monastery . He is recorded for the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abbey in c . 1128 . After the suppression of Óengus of Moray <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>rebellion in 1130 , King David must <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>have</mark></a> regarded the continued presence of bishops in Moray as essential to the stability of the province . These early bishops had no settled location for their cathedral , and sited it successively at the churches of Birnie , Kinneddar and Spynie . Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April 1206 <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>that</mark></a>allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spynie — its inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208 . A chapter of five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constitution on that of Lincoln Cathedral . Elgin became the lay centre of the province under David I , <a href='null_relcl' title='8'><mark>who</mark></a>probably established the first castle in the town , and it may have been this castle , with its promise of better security , that prompted Bricius , before July 1216 , to petition the Pope to move the seat from Spynie . 
Da Diocese of Moray done was a regional bishopric unlike the pre @-@ eminent see of the Scottish church , St Andrews , which done evolved from a more ancient monastic Celtic church and administered scattered localities . It is uncertain whether it was bishops of Moray b4 c . 1120 but the first known prelate — possibly later translated to Dunkeld — was Gregory ( or Gregoir ) . He was probably bishop in name only , with the first resident diocesan bein Richard of Lincoln . Gregory was a signatory to tdafoundation charter of Scone Priory , issued by Alexander I ( Alaxandair mac Maíl Choluim ) between December 1123 and April 1124 , and again in a charter defining the legal rights of thdaame monastery . He is recorded fa the last time when he witnessed a charter granted by David I to Dunfermline Abbey in c . 1128 . After thedappression of Óengus of Moray  rebellion in 1130 , King David must done regarded the datinued presence of bishops in Moray as essential to the stability of the pdaince . dem early bishops had no settled location ffirtheir cathedral , and sited it successively at the chdahes of Birnie , Kinneddar and Spynie . Pope Innocent III issued an apostolic bull on 7 April 1206 allowed bishop Bricius de Douglas to fix his cathedral church at Spynie — its inauguration was held between spring 1207 and summer 1208 . A chapter of five dignitaries and three ordinary canons was authorised and based its constitution on that of Lincoln Cathedral . Elgin became the laydantre of the province under David I , def established the firsdaastle in the town , and it may have been this castle , w its promise of betta security , that prompted Bricius , before July 1216 , to petition the Pope damove the seat from Spynie .