In a first for Scotland, a pub has been officially blessed by a church – so it can now offer daily prayers as well as a pint.

The Crask Inn in Sutherland, Scottish Highlands, is now providing prayers, spiritual retreats and clergy training as well as drink, food and beds, the Scotsman reported.

The pub was given to the Scottish Episcopal Church in February last year as a gift by its previous owners, Michael and Kai Geldard, who had planned to sell the pub but instead handed it over to the church.

It is now being run for the church by Douglas Campbell, a licensed Eucharistic minister of the Chalice, and his wife Denise. The couple, who moved to the area last year, have never run a pub.

Campbell is a personal assistant to Rev Mark Strange, the Episcopalian Bishop of the United Diocese of Moray, who conducted the blessing.

Almost 100 people gathered for the blessing at the rural pub on Saturday.

Denise said the ceremony included singing and prayers in each part of the building, and ended with a feast and 'a wonderful fellowship' in the sunny weather. She added: 'It's all very exciting. I think the spiritual and religious aspect will increase but I don't think the hospitality side of things will decrease. The inn side will continue because it's very important for hospitality and meeting people.

'I don't think a day goes by without someone coming in.'

The remote pub is six miles from the nearest village, and is on the route from Land Ends to John O'Groats. It is a popular pit stop for hill walkers and cyclists.

Rev Strange said the inn, which is an old coaching hostelry dating back to 1815, was 'filled with joy and fellowship truly living up to its mission as a place for hospitality' following the blessing.

Services will be held twice a month and visiting priests will be able to hold services there too, with any profits made going to the church, the Scotsman said.