William Macleod has celebrated his 100th birthday in Barvas, the Lewis community where a remarkable life of faith, service and island tradition began a century ago.

Born in Barvas on 21 September 1926, William was visited on Monday by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Convener Councillor Kenny Macleod, who presented him with a gift on behalf of communities across the Western Isles.

William’s story stretches across generations of enormous change in island life, beginning with childhood and school days in Barvas.

He attended Barvas School until the age of 14 before leaving the classroom to work alongside his father and brother as a Harris Tweed weaver.

At 18, William began his national service and was posted to Germany, where he spent 18 months before returning home in 1947.

His life would soon take a very different direction.

William was converted during the famous Barvas revival of 1949, an event which became an important chapter in the religious history of Lewis and had a profound influence on his own future.

He went on to study at Glasgow University before continuing his studies in Divinity in Aberdeen.

William then carried out supply preaching throughout the Highlands and Islands before moving to Benbecula in 1957 to serve his first congregation.

After several years there, he returned to Lewis in 1964 and moved to Uig, where he would spend more than four decades serving as a minister.

William eventually retired in 2006, although retirement did little to bring his preaching to an end.

He continued to be invited to churches around Lewis and remained willing to preach whenever he was asked.

Today William is once again living in Barvas, completing a circle which began there 100 years ago.

He remains part of the Barvas Church of Scotland congregation and attends services in person whenever he can, joining online when his health or the island weather makes getting there more difficult.

His century has taken him from a childhood in Barvas and the Harris Tweed loom to national service in postwar Germany, university studies, ministry across the Highlands and Islands and more than 40 years serving a congregation in Uig.

Through it all, Lewis has remained home.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is encouraging families to get in touch when relatives are approaching their 100th birthday or another significant anniversary so the occasion can be recognised.

For William Macleod, however, this week belongs to a particularly special milestone and 100 years of a life deeply woven into the story of the islands.

Happy birthday, William.