Tributes have been paid to an "inspirational" former minister in Luss and Arrochar who has died aged 78.

The death of Reverend Dane Sherrard was announced by the Church of Scotland.

He served the two lochside communities for 15 years, between 1998 and 2013.

Henry Dane Sherrard, known to all throughout his life as Dane was born on March 13, 1946 in a nursing home in Watford.

He grew up on Tayside, attending school in Dundee and Broughty Ferry, and his father was ordained as a parish minister in Newtyle, near Coupar Angus, in 1960.

Dane, too, felt the call to become a minister, and attended St Andrews University in the mid-1960s, where he was president of the Students Representative Council and successfully campaigned to overturn a ban on cars for students and to express opposition to apartheid.

It was also while studying in St Andrews that he met Rachel, who was to become his much-loved wife and lifelong partner.

After a post-graduate spell at New College in Edinburgh, in 1971 he was sent to Genoa, in Italy, to work as a minister through the Sailors' Rest charity, providing spiritual support to mariners of all nations who called into the busy port.

He worked at Luss and Arrochar parish churches for 15 years, marrying over 1,000 couplesHe worked at Luss and Arrochar parish churches for 15 years, marrying over 1,000 couples (Image: Newsquest)

On his return to Scotland he served at the parish of Buckhaven, in Fife, and later in Cadder, before moving in 1998 to the banks of Loch Lomond for what would be his last ministerial appointment.

During his time in the local area he married more than 1,000 couples in Luss and developed a pilgrimage centre in the village which attracts visitors from all over the world.

The trail includes a bridge built by personnel from the Army, many of whom became familiar faces in the church.

He installed streaming equipment in the church and broadcast services not only to the troops serving abroad but also to a wider congregation around the world.

He gave his final sermon in the area at Luss Parish Church in September 2013 and told the Advertiser at the time that being part of the community had been "the best days of his life".

After his final service, he retired and moved to the Borders to help his sister look after their mother.

It was in the Borders that he embarked on his final mission to save a historic building after finding the Fogo Church, near Duns, in danger of being closed and left to rot from damp.

A service celebrating his life will be held at St Andrew's Church in Berwick-upon-Tweed on Saturday, June 22 at 3.30pm. 

News of his death has sparked many tributes from members of the public.

One woman said: "So sad to read this news. What a lovely man. Will always remember him at our wedding ceremony in Arrochar July 2009. Sincere condolences to his family."

Another added: "Rev Sherrard officiated at my daughter's wedding in 2006 followed by a magical reception in the Lodge on the Loch Hotel."

A third person said: "Sad to read this - a very inspirational minister."