A church split has taken a bitter new twist after the funeral of an elder could not be held in his local church with the minister of his choice.

Instead, the funeral of Donald Finlayson who died last week aged 81 had to be held in his Lewis home only 50 yards from the church where he worshipped most of his life.

The move has shocked the Western Isles, where religious divides have traditionally been set aside at times of bereavement.

Mr Finlayson was a lifelong member of the Free Church of Scotland but left to join the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) when the kirk split earlier this year over the handling of what became known as the ''Professor MacLeod affair.''

His family wanted his funeral service to be held in Gravir church where many of his family are still members of the Free Church.

The Rev Kenny Macdonald of Skye, minister to the Stornoway continuing congregation, appealed to Gravir's Free Church minister the Rev Malcolm Macdonald for their differences to be set aside for the funeral to take place in the church .

At first permission was granted, but the next day the minister pointed out that, under church rules, only a minister not under suspension from the church could use the building.

Mr Kenny Macdonald conducted the service in Mr Finlayson's home, with about 50 people packed into the house and more than 100 standing outside to pay their respects.

Callum MacLean, a nephew of Mr Finlayson's widow Flora, said: ''History was changed here, and the community and the rest of the islands are aghast at what happened.

''Everyone is astonished and it has been a very hurtful experience. This used to be a time when Christian people put to one side their religious differences.''

Mr Macdonald said: ''People in the community are very upset about the whole thing. I must emphasise that the minister and congregation in Gravir were happy for the service to be held in the church.

''Obviously Mr Finlayson would not have wanted a minister from the residual church to take his service and it was the family's wishes therefore that the funeral be held in his house.

Mr Malcolm Macdonald said the building was offered to the family as requested.

He said: ''Because of the situation in the church the rules do not allow the building to be used by anyone under church suspension.

''Permission to use the building was not withdrawn, but it was pointed out that the service would have to be conducted by a minister not under suspension.

''I suppose that people who do not understand the situation might feel bad about this, and I am not aware of such a situation arising before and it is rather unfortunate.

''These laws were passed when the church was first formed in the Disruption of 1843.''