A Sutherland congregation has ended an 18-year wait for a new minister, but face another delay before seeing him in person.
The Reverend Iain MacLeod was inducted to Assynt and Stoer Church in Lochinver by video conference due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
He will have to wait until restrictions are lifted before moving from Glasgow to the picturesque village.
In the meantime, he has already held his first online service and plans to conduct virtual prayer each week.
A graduate from Highland Theological College in 2018, Mr MacLeod, was previously director of human resources with The Faith Mission in Edinburgh and was latterly interim moderator and locum at Knightswood St Margaret’s Parish Church in Glasgow.
Although he has not been to Sutherland before, he said he and his wife Mary were struck by the parish profile.
“We had a sense that this was the place that God was calling us to.
“I also sense the expectancy and excitement from the congregation who are looking forward to having a full-time minister working in their community.”
Until the full-time appointment, the congregation was served by interim moderator, the Rev John MacPherson, who visited from his parish in Scourie.
Assynt and Stoer elder Ken Hamilton said of the appointment: “We have been praying for a new full-time minister every week since 2002, and Iain’s induction is a wonderful answer to prayer.”