Tributes have been paid to the Rt Rev Ian Murray, former bishop of Argyll and the Isles, who died on Friday, aged 83.
He retired as bishop for the Hebrides and Argyll area in 2008, after 11 years in the role.
“The priest of people of the diocese will make heartfelt prayers for the repose of his soul with gratitude to God for his service and his leadership in our diocese.”
Ian Murray was born in Lennoxtown, Dunbartonshire, in December 1932. When 14 years old he attended St Mary's College, Blairs, Aberdeenshire.
In 1950, Ian Murray was one of a group of eleven students selected by the bishops of Scotland to reopen the Royal Scots College in Valladolid which had been closed since the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.
He returned as its rector in 1987, negotiating the relocation of the college to its present site in Salamanca.
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, said: “During his active years as a bishop, Ian Murray played a full part in the life and work of the Bishops’ Conference contributing with humanity, faith and humour to everything that we did. He will be sorely missed. May God rest his generous soul.”
Bishop Joe Toal, also a former rector of the Royal Scots College and a former bishop of Argyll and the Isles, said: “We ask God to grant him eternal rest after his fruitful and happy ministry as a priest and bishop in Scotland – and we appreciate all that he did for the Church in our country over the past 60 years of his priesthood.”
“We have very fond memories of Bishop Ian and are very sad to hear the news of his death,” said Monsignor Jamie MacNeil, diocesan administrator of Argyll and the Isles.
Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh said: “Ian Murray was happy priest, a good bishop and a father to his people with a particular corner of his heart for the students of the Royal Scots College in Spain."
Tributes paid after former Bishop of Argyll and the Isles dies
25 January 2016