Tributes have been paid to a “widely admired” Perth priest whose career with the Catholic Church spanned six decades.
Monsignor Charles Hendry died just weeks before the 65th anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood.
His brother Tom and his nephew Deacon Charles Hendry were at his bedside in Perth Royal Infirmary when he died at 3.45pm on Thursday.
A private funeral will be held during lockdown, but it is hoped a wider gathering can be held in his honour later this year.
Born in Dundee, Mgr Hendry, who was latterly parish priest at St Mary Magdalene’s, Perth, studied at Blairs College in Aberdeen and San Sulpice Seminary in Paris.
He was ordained to the priesthood in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee, in 1955, having been granted a special dispensation as he was only 22.
Mgr Hendry started his ministry at St John’s in Perth that year and has since served in parishes across the diocese.
He was installed as canon while at Crieff, before returning to St John’s in the 1990s.
In 2003 he was also honoured by Pope John Paul II and made a Prelate of Honour.
In a social media post, Bishop Stephen Robson of the Diocese of Dunkeld wrote: “It is with great sadness, but also with great gratitude for the priestly life filled with service to his people and to the Diocese, that I announce the death of Mgr Charles Hendry.”
He added: “In July, Mgr Hendry would have celebrated the 65th anniversary of his Ordination to the Priesthood and, please God, it could be on that occasion we are able to gather together to offer a Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul.”
At St John the Baptist’s, Perth, Canon Mulholland said: “Monsignor’s life was directed by, and directed towards, the love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Easter faith which he proclaimed sustains and assures us that if there is an end of things, it is only the end, the goal, of the love which will not be contained and bursts the realms of emptiness and death.”
Politicians have also paid tribute. SNP MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire Rosanna Cunningham described Mgr Hendry as a “widely admired and respected priest” and a “truly lovely man”, while MP Pete Wishart said he was “hugely saddened” to hear of the priest’s passing.
Depute first minister Jobn Swinney added: “This is a profoundly sad loss for Perthshire.
“He was a source of both strength and wisdom within the community, and a thoroughly kind and decent man.”
