A Western Isles congregation torn apart by the gay clergy debate that has engulfed the Church of Scotland has appointed a new minister.
The Rev Ian Murdo Macdonald will preach for the first time at Tarbert church on Harris on May 3.
The minister, a graduate of the University of Aberdeen who has led Cross Ness Church on Lewis for nearly 14 years, was the sole nominee for the post.
The church has not had a minister since the retirement of the Rev Norman Maciver in 2011 and services have been led by visiting ministers.
The Rev Colin Caskie, a retired minister from Perth who is interim moderator of the kirk session, said: “Ian will fit in to Tarbert like a hand in a glove.”
It emerged last September that 94 people had quit the congregation over the gay clergy issue while 131 people decided to stay.
A decision made by the Kirk’s General Assembly last May to move towards allowing congregations to appoint people in same-sex relationships if they wished has angered many traditionalists.
The people who have decided to leave the Kirk have joined the Free Church of Scotland.
Referring to the new minister, a native Gaelic speaker who is married with three children, Mr Caskie said: “He is a man greatly respected in the Hebrides and there is a widespread sense of anticipation for his future ministry in Tarbert.
“There has been a strong sense of the Lord’s hand in Ian’s appointment, and whilst understanding the sense of loss the people of Cross Ness must feel, the congregation look forward to the new ministry of Ian Murdo MacDonald.
“His appointment brings peace of mind to the congregation, now they have a minister to lead them after such a long time without.”
Mr Macdonald is expected to move to Tarbert in the summer once his appointment has been formally approved.
The gay clergy issue, sparked by the appointment of the Rev Scott Rennie to Queen’s Cross Church in Aberdeen in 2009, is expected to come to a head at the General Assembly in May.
The majority of presbyteries support a proposal which would give congregations the freedom to appoint a person in a same-sex relationship if they wished.
Commissioners will vote to decide if it should become Kirk law.