Church Army has praised the wife of murdered church organist Alan Greaves following the trial of Ashley Foster at Sheffield Crown Court.
Foster, 22, was cleared of murder but found guilty of the manslaughter of Mr Greaves, who died after being attacked with a pick axe on his way to midnight mass at St Saviour's Church, in High Green, Sheffield last Christmas Eve.
Jonathan Bowling, also 22, earlier admitted murdering Mr Greaves. Both men are to be sentenced on Friday.
Mr Greaves' wife, Maureen, is a Church Army Evangelist at St Saviours and has worked for Church Army since 2008.
Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell, said: "All of us here at Church Army have been shocked and devastated since finding out about Alan's murder on Christmas Eve.
"However, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Maureen, who over the past months has shown such enormous courage and faith through a really dreadful time. She has been an inspiration to the whole world and everyone at Church Army loves her and is so proud of her.
"It has been a privilege to be with her and support her during the trial. I'd also like to thank South Yorkshire Police for the way they've helped Maureen through this complicated legal process."
