James Haldenston

James Haldenston or James Haldenstoun (died 18 July 1443) was an Augustinian churchman from 15th-century Scotland. Probably from somewhere in eastern Fife, Haldenston became an Augustinian at St Andrews, earned several degrees on the continent, and became prior of May before becoming prior of St Andrews, head of the wealthiest and most important religious house in Scotland.

Background Haldenston's origin is unclear. His surname is spelled variously as "Halenston", "Haldenson", "Hawdenston", "Haddistoun", "Haldestoun" and "Aldeston", and it is attested in eastern Fife in the 1380s and 1390s. It is likely that he had become a canon of St Andrews Cathedral Priory before going to France for his studies. He certainly was a St Andrews canon as early as 1407, when he had some right to the position of prior of May. Haldenston was probably a client of Henry Wardlaw, Bishop of St Andrews (1403–1440), who supported his candidature for May and for his later offices. He had some right by September 1407, but Nory was the expected successor of Robert de Leuchars, and it is unclear to what extent Haldenston ever enjoyed possession of the office or its fruits.

Prior of St Andrews Haldenston became prior of St Andrews late in 1417, being elected following the death of the previous prior William de Camera. William de Camera himself had been elected only in 1416, and had gone to the papal court to have his position confirmed. Pope Benedict XIII commissioned the bishops of Glasgow and St Andrews to investigate the matter, but Prior William died on his way back to Scotland, at Bruges in Flanders. The claim to the position by John Bullock was probably given up by the latter when he became bishop of Ross. Certain statutes of the Faculty of Theology indicate that the dean was rather "autocratic" [Watt], and a letter of his survives banning lecturing to one John Shaw owing to the latter's suspected heretical leanings. Haldenston's deanship coincided with the presence of the famous theologian Laurence of Lindores. Walter Bower, abbot of Inchcolm and source of much information about the priors of St Andrews, described him as "a man of great eloquence, and a person of pleasing appearance, quite elegant and becoming in his dress and bearing". Bower recorded his epitaph, and added a physical description, noting his white hair and medium size.