A portrait of the Reverend Alexander Henderson (1583-1646) by an unknown artist.
Henderson studied at St Andrew's University before becoming a professor there in 1610. In 1612 he was appointed as a minister in Leuchars in Fife. Henderson was an Episcopalian but his new parishioners were Presbyterians. When he first arrived at his new church the doors were barred against him. Undeterred, Henderson climbed in through the window.
He later embraced Presbyterianism and was one of the authors of the National Covenant which was signed in Edinburgh in 1638. Later that year Henderson was Moderator of the General Assembly at Glasgow. It was this Assembly which excommunicated the bishops and declared the new prayer book introduced by Charles I invalid, actions which led to the First Bishops' War of 1639 and the Second Bishops' War of 1640.
Reference: 765.89.344 / 1018
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
Church of Scotland, churches, Covenanters, Episcopalianism, Episcopalians, First Bishops' War, General Assemblies, ministers, moderators, National Covenant, paintings, portraits, Presbyterianism, Presbyterians, professors, Second Bishops' War, St Andrew's University