THE Glasgow-born minister who will lead the Queen’s memorial service at St Giles' Cathedral took up his post at the historic kirk in 2014.

The Reverend Calum MacLeod was the first new minister there for 40 years when he replaced the Very Reverend Dr Gilleasbuig Macmillan.

Revd MacLeod, who is married with two daughters, studied economics at the University of Strathclyde, graduating in 1989, and he obtained a BD in Divinity from the University of Glasgow in 1994.

From 1994 until 1997, he was probationer assistant and then assistant minister of St Columba's Church of Scotland, London, where he was ordained in March 1996.

In 1997, he joined the Fourth Presbyterian Church and served its congregation in a number of capacities, concluding as executive associate pastor and head of staff.

Before joining St Giles', Revd MacLeod spent 16 years in his last post in Chicago. On taking up his position, he said: “This historic and important church in the heart of Edinburgh has, I believe, a vital role to play in the life of the city and the nation at this critical time for our country and on into the future.”

The Queen’s coffin will arrive at the Cathedral where the Crown of Scotland will be placed on it by the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, Keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The service, conducted by Revd MacLeod, will be televised and the congregation “will be drawn from all areas of Scottish society”, according to a palace official.

St Giles' Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.