CHAPTER XVII. 



IT is difficult to assign an exact date to the foundation 

 of the Bishopric of Sodor, i.e., the Sudreys (Sudr-ey-jar) or 

 Hebrides. The generally-accepted account is that it was 

 founded about 838, and was, in 1098, united to Man by King 

 Magnus, when he descended on the Isles like a wolf on the 

 fold. Whether this statement is correct or not, it may at 

 least be asserted, that if such a bishopric existed in 838, it is 

 not likely to have exercised any practical authority over the 

 Outer Hebrides. There is no reasonable doubt, that many 

 years before 838, the Long Island was in the hands of the 

 Norsemen ; and, as we know, it was not until the beginning 

 of the eleventh century that they embraced Christianity. 

 When, in 1154, the metropolitan See of Drontheim, in 

 Norway, was erected, Man and the Western Islands were 

 annexed to it as a suffragan diocese. When the Hebrides 

 were incorporated with the Kingdom of Scotland, the rights 

 of the metropolitan see were retained in all respects, 

 except that of patronage, which was withdrawn ; and it was 

 not until 13 80 that the remaining privileges were abolished. 

 In 1377, the Sees of Sodor and Man were disjoined. Thence- 

 forward, Scottish Bishops of the Isles were appointed, who 

 had a seat in Parliament, and who apparently used lona 

 Abbey as their cathedral, until the see was formally united 

 to that abbey by James IV. When the severance between 

 the Sees of Man and the Hebrides took place, the Bishops 

 of Man named the island on which the Cathedral of St. 

 German's stood, " Sodor," in order to keep up the memory 

 of the old association between the two sees. Hence the 

 title of " Bishop of Sodor and Man," which is retained to 

 the present day by the rulers of the Manx diocese. 



