Walter I, Prior of St Andrews

Walter I (died c. 1199) was a 12th-century Augustinian Anglo-Norman prelate active in the kingdom of Scotland.

A canon of St Andrews Cathedral Priory (in Fife), he was precentor of the cathedral when he became prior of St Andrews in 1160.^[1] Walter Bower, our principal source for Walter, says that he served as prior for 24 years before resigning on grounds of ill-health.^[2] Bower's "24 years" is probably a mistake for "34 years", as other sources attest his priorship from his accession in 1160 (the Chronicle of Melrose) to his last charter appearance in 1195.^[3]

His successor was Gilbert I.^[1] Gilbert died within a few years of taking office, in later 1198 or early 1199, and because of this Walter briefly resumed office.^[1] Walter died "within the same year" [Bower], probably sometime in 1199.^[4] Thomas, the former sub-prior, is attested as prior of St Andrews for the first time in a document dating to 6 June 1199.^[1] Walter's time as prior coincided with the episcopates of bishops Ernald, Richard, John the Scot, Hugh and Roger de Beaumont.^[5]