Fair Sunshine

Testimonials

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1. 

   Kevin Kondo – July 19, 2018

   This is one of my favorite biographies. It is comprised of accounts of the Scottish Covenanters who were persecuted for their faith; put in prison, tortured, and put to death. They gave their lives willingly for Christ, their gracious savior. I have read these stories over and over again. I have bought and given away copies, loaned out copies. I will sometimes on a Sunday afternoon, read a couple of the stories between our morning and evening service.

2. 

   Brett Rudder – March 15, 2023

   This is one of the best books I have ever read. Thirteen incredibly moving stories about faithful Christians, faithful to the end. These true accounts made me think and repent of my own lack of faith and lack of boldness for Christ; they motivated and inspired me to live for Christ; and they reminded me of how God promises his Spirit to his children in the darkest of times. Not one page in this collection is wasted. I’d recommend to any Christian of any background; this book will make you cry, and it will force you to peel your eyes away from the world, and focus them on Christ.

3. 

   Matteob – December 3, 2023

   This is a profoundly moving book. It has moved me to tears. Reading the lives of these brave, faithful men through the pen of master storyteller Jock Purves will serve as an encouragement for faithful Christians today who a have to face contempt, derision and increasingly the threat of ostracism and potentially criminalisation for preaching the Gospel. How these men stayed joyful and maintained their faith through appalling treatment often leading to torture and the gallows is not always an easy read but it is an encouraging one showing the power of Grace and the working of the Holy Spirit in adversity. Jock Purves also has the heart of a poet. His prose is lyrical, haunting and totally compelling. I am sure i will pick this book up time and again.

4. 

   David – February 13, 2025

   The Covenanters are perhaps the single most neglected Christian sect. These fearless martyrs established the principle of an independent, self governing Church in their own blood. I read one testimony every Sunday, unless providentially hindered. There are a few that should be split into several readings. This is changing my view of the Psalter; it is quite literally the voice of the martyrs. Selah.

5. 

   Marc Daniel Rivera (KristiyaKnow) – September 4, 2025

   When we think of church history, our minds often drift to big names like Luther, Calvin, or Edwards. But tucked away in Scotland’s stormy seventeenth century lies a story that deserves just as much attention—the story of the Covenanters. These were ordinary men and women who stood for Christ’s crown and covenant at extraordinary cost. Their faith carried them through prison, exile, and execution. And in Fair Sunshine: Character Studies of the Scottish Covenanters, Jock Purves brings their lives to the page with warmth, reverence, and vivid storytelling.

   Originally published in the mid-twentieth century and now reprinted by Banner of Truth, Fair Sunshine has become a classic. The book covers key figures from the “Killing Times,” that dark yet glorious period between the restoration of Charles II (1660) and the Glorious Revolution (1688). During these years, the Scottish church was violently suppressed for refusing to bow to royal interference. Ministers were ejected from their pulpits, gatherings in the fields were outlawed, and hundreds were martyred for their allegiance to Christ alone as head of the church.

   Purves doesn’t write a dry academic history. Instead, he offers a series of character sketches—short biographies that highlight the faith, courage, and convictions of individuals like James Guthrie, Hugh Mackail, Richard Cameron, John Brown, Margaret Wilson, Donald Cargill, and James Renwick. Each chapter reads almost like a devotional. While historically grounded, Purves’s focus is not merely on facts and dates, but on the spiritual backbone of these men and women who chose obedience to God over compromise.

   The book begins with James Guthrie, sometimes called “Sickerfoot” (sure of foot), who refused to “jouk” (duck) even when compromise might have saved his life. His head was displayed on the Netherbow Port of Edinburgh for nearly three decades, a grim but powerful reminder of his steadfastness. Later chapters include figures like Richard Cameron, the fiery preacher whose followers became known as “Cameronians,” and Margaret Wilson, the teenage martyr drowned in the rising tide for refusing to recant her faith. The stories culminate with James Renwick, the last of the Covenanter martyrs, executed in 1688 at just twenty-six years old.

   One of the things that I like about Fair Sunshine is Purves’s writing style. He has a lyrical touch, often weaving poetry, hymns, or contemporary reflections into the narrative. His admiration for the Covenanters is unmistakable, but it never feels forced. Instead, he invites readers to see in these lives not just historical interest but spiritual challenge.

   This revised and fully re-typeset edition from Banner also includes a chronological summary at the beginning, which is helpful for those unfamiliar with Scottish history. It lays out the key events—from the signing of the National Covenant in 1638, to the persecution under Charles II, to the eventual relief under William and Mary. There’s also an outline of covenant history by S. M. Houghton at the back, which helps readers place each character within the wider flow of events. These sections make the book accessible not just for history buffs but also for anyone picking it up for devotional reading.

   Of course, this is not a comprehensive history. If you’re looking for an exhaustive analysis of the political or social dynamics of seventeenth-century Scotland, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Purves is selective, focusing on key figures who embody the spirit of the movement. And that’s exactly what makes the book so effective. It’s not meant to overwhelm the reader with details, but to inspire with examples of costly discipleship.

   For modern readers, especially Christians, the book offers both encouragement and challenge. Encouragement, because it shows that God has preserved His church even in the darkest times. Challenge, because it presses us to ask what we would be willing to lose for Christ. The Covenanters lived and died by the conviction that Christ alone is King. Their testimony still matters, perhaps now more than ever.

   Final thoughts:

   Fair Sunshine is a gem. If you’ve ever felt that church history is too remote or irrelevant, this book will change your mind. It’s not just about the past; it’s about what it means to follow Christ faithfully today.