Much has been written about the Minister who founded today's Church in Prestonpans but I would like to consider the man his times and if you like the providence that brought John Davidson to Prestonpans.

Davidson was born into a wealthy land owning family in Dunfermline in the Kingdom of Fife around 1549, some ten years before the start of the Scottish Reformation. He was therefore raised as a Roman Catholic although nothing is documented of his childhood.

Under the influence of David Ferguson an early reformed church minister Davidson gave himself to religion and to gaining a good education.

He entered St. Andrews University in 1566 attaching himself to St. Leonards gaining his Bachelors in 1569 and his Masters in 1570.

It should be noted that John Knox came to St. Andrews preaching each Sunday between July 1571 till August 1572. This would have had a profound effect on the young Davidson.

Davidson would have attended the General Assembly held in St.Andrews (March 6th 1572) and heard Knox oppose the introduction of Bishops in the Reformed church. A cause that would bring Davidson much grief for the rest of his life. This was the last Assembly attended by Knox as he died the following year in Edinburgh.

Over his lifetime Davidson published many poems his first in 1573 was in praise of John Knox.

His poetry got him into extremely hot water and he was castigated by the then Regent Motion for a poem (1574) dealing with the Crown's right to church property and the methods used to enhance the Crown's share of this wealth. Incurring the wrath of the regent by refusing to retract his poem he was forced to flee from Scotland for a period of some three years passing through England and onto Switzerland studying for a time at Basle University.He was allowed to return only after a strong plea was made on his behalf by the General Assembly.

Shortly after his return he was appointed minister of Liberton near Edinburgh. (1579) He was appointed as a commissioner to the assembly (1581) examining the accusations of ministers leading scandalous lives and was presented to King James who had now assumed the reins of government the following year.Davidson was to prove a very jaggy thorn in the King's side over the next 25 years.

He once again had to flee in 1584, this time to England because he had again crossed swords with the King by his association with the "Protestant Lords"

The King relented and on his return (1588) was offered his old charge but declined.Having finally broken the King's patience Davidson was Transferred to Haddington Presbytery and appointed to a small seaside town that had no minister for some fifty years. His charge had no church nor manse and he was banished to remain within the boundaries of what today is Prestonpans.