The clerk of the Lewis presbytery of the Church of Scotland has died after a car accident in Edinburgh on Monday.

Reverend Tom Sinclair, the former longtime minister of Martin’s Memorial church in Stornoway, a commissioner at the General Assembly this week, was on Waverley Bridge walking across the entrance road to Waverley station, when he was in collision with a car.

The incident involving Mr Sinclair, who lived in Tarbert on Harris, happened when the Assembly finished for the day just after 5pm.

Originally from Glasgow, he was Clerk to the Presbytery of Lewis for more than 30 years. He is survived by his wife Pam and a son Jonathan, 43 who lives in Edinburgh.

Mr Sinclair entered the ministry after studies at Trinity College Glasgow. He completed his probation in Aberdeen Holburn Central with the legendary Dr Knox.

His first parish was Scourie in Sutherland – (now known as Eddrachillis). He later moved to Martin’s Memorial in the 1970s where he served for almost 30 years. After retirement he moved to Tarbert.

Moderator The Rt Rev John Chalmers remembered Tom and his family in prayers at the start of the Assembly today (Tue) and assured the family that the prayers of the whole Church would continue to be with them.

A church statement said: “The news of Tom’s death in such tragic circumstances came as a terrible shock to the General Assembly. Tom Sinclair loved the Church of Scotland and loved General Assembly, we mourn his loss and we commend his wife and family to the care of the community of faith and to the grace God.

“Tom’s death is a painful tragedy for his wife and family and will come as real blow to the Presbytery of Lewis which he was still serving as Presbytery Clerk.”