Tributes have been paid to a former Renfrewshire minister who has died at the age of 69.

Reverend Alan Birss, who was minister at Paisley Abbey for more than 30 years, died on Friday, December 9, having been diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer in late September.

In a message posted on his wife Carol's Facebook page, his family stated: "We are incredibly grateful for the immense love and all the prayers that have been given to all of us these last months. Alan was quite overcome but greatly strengthened by this.

"We will all miss Alan so much. He was the most wonderful of husbands and the most loving of fathers. Our lives will never be the same without this very special man.

"He is now at peace with the God he loved and served all his life."

Mr Birss was minister at the 12th-century abbey for 32 years and conducted his last official service in August 2020, having postponed his retirement earlier that year due to the Covid pandemic.

He died at his home in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, with Carol by his side after suffering what is believed to be a massive internal haemorrhage.

Rev Dr Peter McEnhill, clerk to the Presbytery of Clyde of the Church of Scotland, said he was “extremely saddened" to hear of the death of Mr Birss, who had served Paisley Abbey "with distinction."

He added: “Alan was much loved by his congregation, which he led through changing times with great skill and discernment. He was also a much respected and admired figure by many of the civic institutions of Paisley with which the minister of the abbey engages as part of their civic ministry to the town.

“As a colleague, he was wise, soft-spoken and discerning in his judgements and he served the presbytery well in many capacities over many years.

“He had real gifts for the structure of liturgy and meaningful prayer and served the Church of Scotland nationally on the former Panel of Worship and as convenor of the Worship and Doctrine task group.

“He and his wife Carol were enjoying a wonderful retirement in Aboyne – now tragically foreshortened.

“Carol and the family remain very much in our thoughts and prayers at this time.

“We commend Alan into the care of the God, remembering him with great affection.”

A funeral service for Mr Birss, described as "a loving father to Seán and father-in-law to Brodie," will be held at Paisley Abbey on Wednesday, December 21, starting at 11.15am, followed by a private cremation.

There will also be a thanksgiving service in Aboyne in the new year.