He was Canon Charles Copland (pictured) who served the Arbroath congregation from 1953 to 1959. He died in his sleep at Whitehills Hospital, Forfar, just four months from his 100th birthday.

He was very well known in the town and went everywhere by bicycle. He was an easily recognised character as he rode around the town with his black cassock streaming out behind him.

Canon Copland was the guiding light in a major increase in the congregation at St Mary's during his tenure. It was a time when parishioners had to be in the church early or they would not get a seat and the Sunday School regularly attracted 60 youngsters or more.

He was born in 1910 in the Rectory, Ardrossan. He was the only son of Rev Alexander Copland, the rector of the Episcopalian Church in Ardrossan, and Williamina Somerville McAlester, daughter of the clan Chieftain of the Clan McAlester.

In 1919 the family moved to Forfar where his father became Rector of St John's Episcopal Church. His education started at Ardrossan Academy and continued at Forfar Academy from 1919 to 1923.

In 1923 he attended Denstone College in Staffordshire where he was Captain of School, Captain of the rugby XV, won the Athletics Challenge Cup, and attained his shooting colours.

He was a student at Corpus Christi College at Cambridge University from 1929 to 33, graduating with honours in history and theology. He won college rugby XV colours, was president of College Athletics and achieved a shooting half Blue.

His favourite sport was shooting and he shot for Scotland in long range rifle at Bisley between 1932 and '38 and 1954 and'93.

He trained for the priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College, near Oxford, and then became a curate at Peterborough Parish Church in 1934.

The Scottish Episcopal Church had a mission in Central India based at Nagpur and Canon Copland became a priest just south of Nagpur at the Chanda Mission in 1938. His impact in Chanda is still felt, many visitors from the area travelling to Scotland to see him over the years. In his work, he travelled mostly by bike or on foot, visiting small outlying villages in the jungle.

He returned to the UK in 1945 and married Wendy Williamson in 1946. They returned to India together and daughter Frances was born in 1947. In 1951 Jane was born in Forfar when they were back in the UK. Charles retired from the Chanda Mission in 1953 and became Rector of St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church, Arbroath, in 1953, where he remained until 1959.

The family moved to Oban where Charles became Provost of St John's Cathedral from 1959 to '79 and Dean of Argyll and The Isles from 1977 to '79.

He retired in 1979 and he and Wendy moved to Comrie and then to Kirriemuir in 1995, to be near their daughter, Jane Lendrum, and her family.

Mrs Copland died in 2001.

Canon Copland is survived by his two daughters and two grandchildren.