The Earl of Wessex has said he hoped a visit to a Western Isles Church would have had a “healing” influence on people who are mourning the death of its former minister.
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie expressed their condolences to friends of the Rev Tom Sinclair when they attended an event at Martin’s Memorial Church at Stornoway on Tuesday.
The 76-year-old, who was Presbytery of Lewis clerk, died after being knocked down by a car outside Waverley Station in Edinburgh on Monday.
Mr Sinclair had not long left the General Assembly building on the Mound.
Prince Edward, this year’s Kirk Lord High Commissioner, said: “It was with great sadness and shock we heard of the tragic death of the Rev Tom Sinclair.
“It was one of the those extraordinary things of life that of all the churches throughout the whole of Scotland that we could have picked, it should have been his church we visited.
“They could have not been more welcoming and I hope that the event in some way provided some sort of healing for them.”
Former Presbytery of Lewis moderator John Cunningham said it was “remarkable” that the royal couple visited Mr Sinclair’s former church during their tour.
“I do not think that was coincidence, there is something in providence that made that happen,” he added.
“I think it has been part of the healing process to have the royals in that very congregation, it was very encouraging for us.
“The whole island is stunned because Tom was very well known and a very friendly, lovely man.
“Everyone has been deeply affected by it. His funeral is next Wednesday so we will be making arrangements for that as soon as we get home.”