Reverend James B. Craven, 1850-1924

James B. Craven, son of the Reverend J.E. Craven, Free Church minister, was born in Aberdeen in 1850. He took the Arts course at Aberdeen University, 1861 - 1863, attended Law classes there from 1866 -1869, and received an Honorary DD degree in 1908. He was ordained to the Scottish Episcopalian Church in 1875, and subsequently appointed Rector of St Olaf's, Kirkwall, 1876 - 1914, Provincial Grand Master Depute of Caithness, Orkney and Zetland, 1904 - 1914, Archdeacon of Orkney, 1912 - 1914. He retired in 1914, owing to his increasing ill health and died at Kirkwall on 17 April 1924.

Throughout his life, Craven pursued his interest in and developed an expert knowledge of ecclesiastical history and biography. His extensive research in this area culminated in several important publications, most notably, his series on the history of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which was published over a period of 40 years. Titles in the series include: History of the Episcopal Church in Orkney, 1688 - 1882 (Kirkwall, 1883, 1912); History of the Church in Orkney from the Introduction of Christianity to 1688, 3 vols (Kirkwall, 1893 - 1901); History of the Episcopal Church in Moray (London, 1889); History of the Episcopal Church in Caithness (Kirkwall, 1908); and Records of the Dioceses of Argyll and the Isles 1560-1860 (Kirkwall, 1907). Other published works include his Journals of the Episcopal Visitations of Bishop Robert Forbes (London, 1923?); Esoteric Studies of Bishop Leighton (Selkirk, 1918); Scots Worthies, 1560 - 1688 (Edinburgh, 1894); Family of Cravie or Craven in Scotland (Kirkwall, 1910); Family of Arnot (Kirkwall, 1913); Count Michael Maier (Kirkwall, 1910); and Dr Robert Fludd (Kirkwall, 1902). Further details of publications are given in Who Was Who, 1916 - 1928, 242; David M. Bertie, Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689 - 2000 (Edinburgh: Clarke, 2000); and in his obituary in Aberdeen University Review 11 (1923 - 1924), 284.

Annotated copies of many of his books, including several still in manuscript form, were bequeathed to the University after his death. However, his most valuable contribution to the University was his gift, in 1914, of the important Kirkwall Bibliotheck, an early public library comprising over 500 volumes, which was established by William Baikie of Holland, Stronsay, in 1684.

From the guide to the Papers of Reverend James B. Craven, Archdeacon of Orkney, c 1880 - 1922, (University of Aberdeen)