THE clerk to this year's Church of Scotland's General Assembly has been appointed as a chaplain to the Queen.

Reverend John Chalmers will be one of 10 appointed chaplains to the Queen north of the Border.

The 61-year-old has previously served in the parishes of Renton in Dunbartonshire and Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, before taking up a role in the Kirk's Board of Ministry and he is now principal clerk to the Church of Scotland.

Rev Chalmers said he was honoured by the appointment and looked forward to starting his new position, which he will hold until his 70th birthday.

The Right Reverend Lorna Hood, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and also a Queen's Chaplain said: "This is great news. John is a diligent minister of the Church of Scotland whose skills will be of great asset to the Chapel Royal."