SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Henderson, Alexander, 1583-1646,
Scottish
churchman often regarded as the greatest figure in the Church of Scotland after
John Knox.
Henderson became a leading opponent of prelacy and of English
domination of the church. In 1638, after the signing of the National Covenant
he was elected moderator of the general assembly at Glasgow, which deposed the
bishops and set up Presbyterianism in spite of royal threats.
Henderson met
King Charles I to settle the problem and was favourably received.
In 1640,
he was elected rector of the University of Edinburgh.
In 1641 and 1643, he
was moderator of the general assembly and presented (1643) a draft of the
Solemn League and Covenant. He sat thereafter (1643-46) in the Westminster
Assembly.
In 1646, he again met Charles for a conference on church
government during the course of the king's alliance with the Scottish army.
Henderson wrote many speeches and sermons.