His academic studies were at Glasgow University where he gained a BSc in Chemistry and at Edinburgh University where he studied for a Bachelor of Divinity.
During the course of his studies at New College, Edinburgh, he spent a semester at University of Tübingen in Germany.
David grew up in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and completed his secondary education in Kilsyth, where his father was the parish minister.
David and Julie were married in 1990 and have two children, Kirsty born 1993 and Mairi born 1995.
His interests are travelling, cinema, golf and swimming and he is an associate member of the Iona Community, and involved in the Prestwick Town Twinning Association, and the Prestwick Christian Aid Committee.