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Nevile Davidson
A Life to Be Lived
Foreword by David M. Beckett
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
Rev. Dr. A. Nevile Davidson (1899-1976), minister of Glasgow Cathedral for over thirty years, was one of the most distinguished Scottish churchmen of the twentieth century. A living embodiment of the idea of "a broad churchman," he was both a representative of the high church "Scoto-Catholic" tradition and a key supporter of Billy Graham's 1955 evangelistic campaign.
Throughout most of his life he kept a detailed diary and for the first time, in this book, this rich source of material is drawn upon, in addition to the reminiscences of those who knew him, giving a unique insight into the man behind the dignified public persona.
Nevile Davidson: A Life to be Lived not only paints a portrait of a historically significant figure but reveals him to be a man of vision who was constantly thinking of innovative ways to communicate the church's message to ordinary people and who worked tirelessly for ecumenical cooperation. As such, Nevile Davidson has much to say that is relevant to our own time.
Educated at the universities of Glasgow and Oxford, Andrew G. Ralston is a retired teacher and author of numerous historical and educational books. He is an elder at Glasgow Cathedral and a member of the Council of the Society of Friends of the Cathedral.
"A distinctive feature of this elegantly written book is that it is primary-source based . . . and so constitutes an original contribution to the life and work of an eminent Glasgow minister. The book should both be illuminating for a wide spectrum of readers and add a very useful source for historians of modern Scottish church history and Presbyterianism."
--W. Ian P. Hazlett, Emeritus Professor, University of Glasgow
"Andrew Ralston has provided us with a well-written and researched, yet highly accessible, biography of a key Christian figure in mid-twentieth-century Scotland, whose life and work deserves the detailed and engaging treatment that Ralston provides. Nevile Davidson's dynamic ministry at Glasgow Cathedral, his ecumenical drive, and his compassion and humanity shine through. This book is an excellent contribution to our understanding of the buoyant post-war period in Scottish Christianity, and its lessons for us now."
--Sandy Forsyth, New College, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh
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