A PROMINENT minister hailed as a "tremendous raconteur" sadly passed away at his Alva home this month at the age of 100.

The Rev Dr Ian Masson Fraser was a retired Church of Scotland minister, social activist, theologist and practical philosopher who made sure each of his days were filled with something of substance and significance.

His funeral service took place last Friday, April 20, with a packed service in Alva Parish Church with the funeral party then heading to Gargunnock Cemetery.

The centenarian, who as the Advertiser reported turned 100 in December, passed away suddenly on Monday, April 9, in his sheltered accommodation.

According to sister paper The Herald, on his desk were the latest of his writings while in his pocket was the magnifying glass he used to read books, pamphlets and scripture with every day.

Paying tribute to him, fellow church-goer Andrew Muirhead said: “He was a tremendous raconteur; his stories were legion, and he enjoyed telling them.

"But he was also one of the outstanding thinkers in the church, a talented hymn-writer, the author of at least 25 books, an expert on the Scottish novelist RB Cunningham Grahame and, in his younger days, a talented footballer.

“He was also, always, a rebel with a strong feeling of social justice and the grit and stamina to try to put things right.”

Always a work in progress, he never stopped reading and writing, penning more than two dozen books throughout his life.

In his 100 years he visited almost 100 countries – some under dictators and totalitarian regimes and was a relentless opponent of apartheid and repression.

An agent of God, the Forres-native's guiding principle was to empower the congregation and the Iona Community was essentially the physical realisation of this spirituality.

The Rev Dr Fraser was also a warden of Scottish Churches House in Dunblane, executive secretary of the World Council of Churches, dean and head of the department of mission at Selly Oak Colleges, research consultant of the Scottish Churches’ Council and an informal ambassador for the British Missionary Society and Boards.

Also paying tribute was Ivan Williams, a friend of Dr Fraser’s son Keith, who told the Advertiser: “He was just such an inspiring, wonderful man.

“Personally, I had a colossal respect for him and a great admiration for all the situations he’s been involved in and the work he had done throughout his career.

“He has really been quite a spectacular character who lived a very-very full life.”

The renowned minister was married to late wife Margaret, a woman of high intelligence. She put her career on hold to sustain him and they travelled together whenever they could.

While the loss of beloved Margaret in 1987 wounded him, he carried on with his work.

His substantial legacy includes the Iona Community itself and an impressive body of works including theology, poetry and hymns.

The Rev Dr Fraser is survived by children Anne, Keith as well as Ian, nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.