John Welsh of Irongray

Who is John Welsh of Irongray?

John Michael Welsh of Irongray was a leader of the Scottish Covenanters movement.

He was the grandson of John Welsh, minister of Ayr, and a great-grandson of John Knox. He is called "of Irongray" - referring to the parish of Irongray in Dumfriesshire, to differentiate him from his grandfather.

On one occasion, John Welsh preached to a large crowd at Kinkell, near St Andrews.

Philip Standfield, son of Sir James Standfield and a student at St Andrews University, attended the sermon and threw some missile that struck the preacher. Welsh said "I do not know who has put this public affront on Christ; but, be he who he may, there shall be more at his death than hearing me preach today". This turned out to be true, for the young man was later hanged for murdering his father.