William Hay (bishop)

William Hay (17 February 1647 – 17 March 1707) was a Scottish clergyman and prelate. He was educated at the University of Aberdeen and entered the church, receiving holy orders from Patrick Scougal, Bishop of Aberdeen. Hay was appointed to Kilconquhar parish church in Fife before moving to Perth. In early 1688 he was selected to be Bishop of Moray and was consecrated on 4 February 1688.

However, Hay's days as a bishop were not to last long. In the following year Bishop Hay, along with all other Scottish bishops, was deprived of his see. He refused to take an oath of fealty to King William and Queen Mary and was expelled from Spynie Palace, its last episcopal occupant. He died at Castlehill, near Inverness, in 1707.

References[]

• Keith, Robert, An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688, (London, 1924)