Tributes have been paid to the Right Reverend Ian Murray, former Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, who died on Friday, January 22, at the age of 83 after a short illness.

Originally from Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire, Murray was ordained to the priesthood in 1956 at the Royal Scots College in Valladolid, Spain, where he studied for six years.

He served as a priest in many places including Edinburgh, Fife, Galashiels and Falkirk before settling as Bishop of Argyll and the Isles in 1999 until his retirement in December 2008.

President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland and archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia said: "On behalf of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, I would like to offer Bishop Murray's family our deepest and most prayerful sympathies.

"During his active years as a Bishop, Ian Murray played a full part in the life and works of the Bishops' Conference contributing with humanity, faith and humour to everything that we did. He will be sorely missed."

Mr Murray was a vice-rector and rector of the Royal Scots College in Spain, overseeing its move from Valladolid to its present location in Salamanca in 1988, where Scottish bishops are currently in session and received the news of his death.

Leo Cushley, archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, said: “When we heard the sad news this afternoon, Archbishop Tartaglia immediately halted proceedings and we paused to pray for the repose of Bishop Murray’s soul.

"Ian Murray was a 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."

Monsignor James McNeil, diocesan administrator of Argyll and the Isles said: "We have very fond memories of Bishop Ian Murray and are sad to hear the news of his death.

"The priests and 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 his latter years, Mr Murray was in residence at St Columba’s in Newington and then at St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Edinburgh, where he began in priestly ministry almost 60 years earlier, before creating a new home at St Joseph’s House, Edinburgh, under the care of the Little Sisters of the Poor.