John Winram

Who was John Winram?

John Winram was a 16th-century Scottish priest and ecclesiastical reformer. He was born in 1492, the son of one James Winram of Ratho and his wife Margaret Wilkie. He obtained a Bachelor's Degree, a Master's Degree and a Doctorate from St Leonard's College, University of St Andrews.

He had become an Augustinian monastic canon at St Andrews Cathedral Priory by 1527, becoming sub-prior by the end of 1535. By then, he was de facto leader of the house, since the commendator-prior was James Stewart, born only in 1531 and still a minor. In 1553 he was appointed to be Prior of St Serf's Inch, Lochleven.

In his roles at St Andrews and St Serf's Inch, he was able to exert an influence on the national church. He was a keen reformer, but it was not until the Scottish Reformation came fully into being that he accepted a break with the Roman Catholic Church. Winram played a leading role in the early organisation of the newly independent Scottish Church, maintaining a high work-load as an administrator into his 80s.

Winram had married Margaret Stewart, the illegitimate daughter of Alexander Stewart, Bishop of Moray, in 1562. By this marriage he obtained two stepsons, Robert and Andrew.