George Wishart (1513–1546)

George Wishart was a Scottish preacher of the Reformation whose life combined learning, tenderness, and fearless conviction. Known as “the gentle preacher,” he carried the gospel through towns darkened by sickness and fear, including plague-stricken communities where many avoided the dying. His message was not novelty but a return to the clear authority of Scripture and the saving work of Christ.

Those who heard him noted not only his clarity, but his patience under insult and threat. His courage was not bravado; it flowed from confidence that Christ is worth more than life itself. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul…” (Matthew 10:28).

Ormiston and the Arrest (28 Feb 1546)

On February 28, 1546, Wishart was staying at Ormiston in East Lothian, sheltered by friends who admired his preaching and feared for his safety. He had been warned repeatedly that powerful men sought his death, and he had opportunity to flee. Yet he chose to remain, believing that a shepherd does not abandon the flock when wolves draw near.

He was arrested at Ormiston and delivered into the hands of Cardinal David Beaton, the Archbishop of St Andrews and a determined opponent of Reformation preaching. Wishart’s refusal to run was an act of steady faith: he would not purchase safety by silence, nor protect himself by neglecting those who needed the Word.

St Andrews: Trial, Witness, and Legacy

At St Andrews, Wishart was tried and condemned as a heretic. The night before his execution, he remained composed, commending himself to God and praying with a calm that strengthened others who watched. His courage highlighted a Christian pattern: suffering can become testimony when endured without hatred, and truth can be spoken without violence.

On the next day he was burned, sealing his witness with his life. His death stirred many—preachers, hearers, and quiet believers—to endure, to repent, and to speak plainly about Christ. Wishart’s steadfastness echoes the confession: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).