Church congregations across Scotland are sending out Christmas prayers for a Perthshire pastor who has been missing for more than a month.
Despite police stating there has been no trace of 65-year-old Peter Edwards, of Scone, following him being reported missing on November 1, members of his church are still holding out hope he will be found alive.
Mr Edwards, who is an associate pastor at the Perth Christian Fellowship, was seen on CCTV getting off a number seven bus in Perth’s Glasgow Road at 7.43am on November 1. The bus stopped outside the Lovat Hotel, Perth.
He was then spotted getting off a bus in Barclay Street, Stonehaven, around 3.20pm the same day. Police had said he had earlier boarded this bus at 2pm in Aberdeen.
Officers have been scanning CCTV footage and made extensive door-to-door inquiries regarding Mr Edward’s disappearance, but all to no avail.
On Thursday, Senior Pastor Mervyn Milne of the Perth Christian Fellowship, said church members are still praying for the safe return of Mr Edwards, who previously lived in New York. He moved to Scotland around 30 years ago.
“It is an awful time with Christmas coming up and we don’t understand why this has happened,” he said.
“However, there is still a high expectation among our church members in Perth that Peter will be found alive.”
He continued: “There is no change to the situation following the last police appeal around two weeks ago, but we are still holding daytime and nightly prayer sessions for Peter.
“Churches across the country are praying for him — all denominations across the spectrum are involved, including members in Stonehaven, where Peter was last seen.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “There have been no further sightings of Mr Edwards and the family have been informed of all inquiries carried out so far.”
Mr Edwards is described as being 5ft 9ins tall, balding, with a grey beard and sideburns. He speaks with an American accent.
He was last seen wearing gold-rimmed glasses, a long-sleeved grey shirt, a black tank top jumper, a tie, grey trousers and black leather shoes.
Police are still appealing for information on his whereabouts. Anyone who can help should phone 101.
