One of the most celebrated and well known Covenanters of 17th century Scotland was Alexander Peden, or “Sandy” as he was known.He was born at the farm of Auchencloich in the Parish of Sorn, not far from Cumnock in 1626 .His destiny was such that he would devote his life to his faith and the struggle for the independence of the Scottish kirk. He was educated at Glasgow University and for a time became a schoolteacher at Tarbolton.

By 1660 he became minister of New Luce in Galloway, this however was to be short lived due to his opposition to the Act passed by parliament which demanded that all ministers ordained since 1649 be confirmed by bishops, who were in turn answerable to the monarchy. This meant that effectively the monarchy controlled the church. To Peden and many other ministers this was unthinkable and because of their refusal to conform to this enforced episcopacy they were forced to relinquish their post, Peden leaving his ministry in 1663. This situation led Peden and a substantial number of other ministers in a similar position to hold their own meetings to worship, these meetings were called conventicles. The persons attending these conventicles were called Covenanters as they were in support of the Covenant.

The Covenant was a document introduced in 1638 by Rev Alexander Henderson of Leuchars and Lord Johnston of Wariston on behalf of the Church of Scotland, landowners and the nobility. The Covenant was in response to Charles I and his opposition of the established Presbyterianism. Charles was attempting to impose episcopacy on the Scottish church like existed in England. The Covenant was placed on public display in Edinburgh (Greyfriars church) and drew over sixty thousand people who signed it declaring their support for Presbyterianism but also loyalty to the crown. In 1643 Charles I was overtaken by events beyond his control, namely the English Civil war. This resulted in him being dethroned and one Oliver Cromwell given the position of Lord Protector, he then went on to execute the King. Meanwhile the Scottish people opposed this and sided with Charles son who they saw as Charles II. Events changed though when the English parliamentarians saw Presbyterianism as what they would want to be imposed throughout Britain and were in agreement with the Covenant. This situation now meant that the Covenanters backed Oliver Cromwell. Subsequently though the English parliamentarians were to go back on their support of Presbyterianism. In the year 1650 Charles II landed in Scotland and quickly made known his support for the Covenant thereby placating the Scots, accordingly he was crowned in Scone one year later but was defeated by the English in battle which led to Cromwell establishing forts throughout Scotland to ensure his grip was maintained. One of these forts was at Ayr, near the harbour the remnants of this fort can be seen today. After Cromwell died Charles II gained power and promptly changed his mind about supporting Presbyterianism and initiated a process to give him control over the church. He introduced the Act which required ordained ministers to be confirmed by Bishops and so created the conditions that began the period when Covenanters were persecuted most.

Many kirks, especially in south west Scotland became empty, troops of dragoons were ever present on patrol to stop conventicles. People attending these meetings were taking a big risk, especially the non-conforming ministers, some who paid with their lives for their beliefs. Following the loss of his post and his livelihood Peden lived rough preaching at conventicles before being summonsed to appear at the Privy council in Edinburgh in 1666 for being said to have conducted baptisms and marriages, he failed to attend. He became an outlaw living and preaching in moors and hills in the Cumnock and southern Scotland area. Peden had by this time earned the title of prophet because of his so-called prophecies or premonitions. Peden is legendary when evicted from his pulpit by order of the privy council in 1663, he closed the door and knocked on it three times over with his bible stating

"I arrest the in my Master`s name that none ever enter the but such as come in the door as I have done"

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None ever did until William Kyle was brought in by call of the people thirty years later. Peden was always sought by the dragoons and was captured in Knockdow near Ballantrae in1673 following a spell of freedom in Ireland. He was imprisoned on the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth where he spent four years before he was tried in Edinburgh in 1678 and was banished to the West Indies for the rest of his life to work as a slave. On boarding the ship that was to take him to america, Peden again prophecised that "the ship was not built that could take him there", again his prophecy became true. Peden persuaded the captain to allow him and sixty other covenanters to go free. Peden arrived back in Scotland in 1679 following the covenanters defeat at Bothwell Bridge. This was a very dangerous time for Peden and his associates and again to protect his friends and allies he fled to Ireland. He returned three years later, sleeping rough from place to place. By this time Peden`s reputation was legendary for his premonitions. There is another tale of how Peden and a group of covenanters were being closely pursued by dragoons, peden`s strength was failing at this time. He stopped and knelt down and said to his fellow covenanters

"Let us pray to the Lord". They did so though reluctantly, he prayed "Lord it is thine enemies day, hour and power, I ken fine they mustnae be idle but hast thou nae ither work for them than to send them after them that ha` the power to flee, for our strength has gaen. Cast thy cloak o`er auld Sandy, and thur pair things, and save us this ain time mair. we`ll keep it aye in rememberance and tell it to the commendation o` thy goodness, pity and compassion. Lord, hear my prayer.”

It is said that almost immediately they were hidden from the dragoons in a cloud of mist. The dragoons were then called upon by a messenger before the mist cleared. Peden`s escapes and evasions of capture were almost magical and it seemed that no-one would be tempted by the one thousand merks placed on his head. He was also said to wear a mask to hide his identity, the mask is still in existence today.