A CHURCH minister is alleged to have stolen collection money donated by funeral mourners which was intended for charities in memory of the deceased.

Douglas Cranston is also said to have charged fees to couples planning their weddings at St Columba’s Church in Kilmacolm before illegally pocketing hundreds of pounds for his services.

Cranston, 57 — who is facing a total of eight charges over alleged offences which are said to span three years — is further accused of helping himself to more than £4,000 from his own church’s Benevolent Fund.

He was absent from the first calling of the case at Greenock Sheriff Court, which has been continued without plea, but has been ordered to appear in the dock when the matter resumes later this month.

Prosecutors say that Cranston committed a catalogue of offences at the church, the manse he resided in at Kilmacolm and at Greenock Crematorium whilst acting in the course of his employment as a Church of Scotland minister.

The Crown say he targeted one Port Glasgow family twice and another family in the town once over the deaths of relatives as part of his alleged funeral collection plate scams.

Cranston is said to have suggested that donations be made for the benefit of ‘the poor of Kilmacolm’, the British Heart Foundation, dementia charities and his own church funds.

It is alleged that he obtained £163 by means of such a fraud on one occasion and that the amounts he is claimed to have stolen at other bereavement services he conducted are meantime unknown.

Cranston told couples during consultations about their impending weddings that a fee of £400 had to be paid by people who were not members of the Church in order for the services to proceed, it is alleged.

Prosecutors say he had cheque deposit payments of £200 made out to him prior to the ceremonies taking place.

It’s alleged he also took advantage of the access that he had to the St Columba’s Church Benevolent Fund account to embezzle a total of £4,325 at a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland in Johnstone and elsewhere during an 18-month period.

Another charge claims that Cranston stole £250 in cash at Greenock Crematorium.

All of the the alleged offences are said to have taken place between February 1 2013 and June 30 2015.

Defence lawyer Edward Sweeney told the court that reference to Cranston being alleged to have committed crimes ‘in the course of his employment as a Church of Scotland minister’ is being challenged.

Procurator fiscal depute Pamela Brady said that it is anticipated that a trial on the matters will last between three and five days.

Solicitor Mr Sweeney said: “It is suggested that there are 20 Crown witnesses and at least three defence witnesses.

“Counsel has been instructed but I’m told not available until September.”

Sheriff David Hall interjected: “There are many counsel more than capable of conducting this trial.”

Mr Sweeney asked for Cranston’s attendance to be excused at the next calling of the case on May 26.

Sheriff Hall ordained the accused to appear.