IT HAS been confirmed that the father of tragic schoolboy Scott Chiriseri is a member of a controversial church in Stirling.

This week, it was revealed that Tichakunda Chiriseri had joined the Agape For All Nations Ministries Internationals church earlier this year.

The Advertiser has since confirmed his membership and that the church has offered the father counselling as he begins to deal with the devastating loss of his young son.

Both he and his wife Farai Chishari — the woman currently detained by police in connection with Scott’s death — had previously been members of Alva Baptist Church.

However, Mr Chiriseri — a quantity surveyor in Falkirk — joined the Stirling organisation around six months ago, shortly before the couple’s separation.

Last night, Dr Ian McHardy, church administrator with Agape, said: “We will be offering Mr Chiriseri support to help him through this difficult period.

“It is a horrible time for the whole community, and all of us at the church share a sense of mourning.” Earlier this week a church spokesperson confirmed that Mrs Chirashi was not a member of Agape.

“It’s obviously a very difficult time,” he said. “He [Mr Chiriseri] had been a member of the church for months and we understand he wasn’t at the house because he had separated from his wife.

“I believe they split up a few months ago and she is not a member of our church.” Agape has courted controversy in the past due to the actions of its unconventional leader Dr Walter Masocha.

The apochryphal archbishop was arrested earlier this year on sexual assault charges over an incident alleged to have take place at his home in Sauchieburn.

Agape’s website describes Dr Mashoca — a former university lecturer — as a ‘powerful evangelist and prophet of God’.

He previously sparked controversy after it was claimed he was baptising people and carrying out exorcisms in his garden. Neighbours later demanded Stirling Council give him an ASBO.

However, there is no indication at this stage that Mr Chiriseri’s involvement with Agape forms any part of the ongoing police investigation in Alva.