Patrick Hamilton - Scotland’s First Martyr
- GOLS
- Oct 19
- 2 min read
Whilst many of us are familiar with the names of John Knox and Martin Luther, fewer know of Patrick Hamilton, the young man who became the first martyr of the Scottish Reformation. Though his ministry was brief, his death by fire at St Andrews sent shockwaves across Scotland and helped ignite the movement for reform.
Hamilton was born in 1504 in Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, into a noble family. Gifted and ambitious, he left Scotland at just 14 to study at Paris University, where he graduated in 1520. While in France, he encountered the writings of Martin Luther, whose bold challenges to the authority and practices of the Church left a lasting mark on the young scholar.
Returning to Scotland, Hamilton continued his studies at St Mary’s College in St Andrews, where he also began to teach. Influenced by Luther’s theology, he preached against corruption in the Church and upheld Scripture as the final authority over tradition and ritual. His short but powerful treatise, Patrick’s Places, set out his convictions: salvation comes by faith in Christ alone, not by works, and the Bible should be available to all.
At a time when Lutheran books were banned in Scotland, Hamilton’s views quickly drew the attention of Archbishop James Beaton of St Andrews. Facing arrest in 1527, he fled to Europe, where he deepened his ties with Reformers and even met Martin Luther in person. Yet his zeal for Scotland drew him back, despite the danger.
Soon after, Beaton lured Hamilton into a supposed debate, only to have him arrested. In a trial that lasted barely twelve hours, he was condemned for heresy and sentenced to death.
On 29 February 1528, Hamilton was executed by burning outside the Old College in St Andrews. The flames consumed him slowly over nearly six hours, but he refused to recant. His words at the stake rang out with courage: “I will not deny my confession in awe of your fire. I would rather my body burn in this fire than that my soul should burn in the fire of hell for denying the truth.”
Though Church leaders hoped his death would silence reform, it had the opposite effect. Onlookers observed that “the reek of Patrick Hamilton hath infected all those on whom it blew.” His martyrdom only spread his message further and strengthened the resolve of Reformers to come.
Patrick Hamilton’s life was short, but his death became the spark that set the Scottish Reformation ablaze. Today, his initials carved into the pavement at St Salvator’s Chapel in St Andrews mark the place of his execution. They stand as a lasting reminder of his courage, faith, and the high cost of standing for the truth.
