Christian leaders have been paying tribute to the Duchess of Kent whose death at the age of 92 was announced on Friday.

Born Katharine Worsley the duchess converted to Catholicism in 1994, becoming the first member of the Royal Family to become a Catholic for more than 300 years. She described it as a "long-pondered personal decision" and was received into the Catholic church by Cardinal Basil Hume who was Archbishop of Westminster at the time.

She became a volunteer in the Passage homelessness charity and supported many causes, many of which centred around her love of music. For many years she taught music at schools and was known as Mrs Kent.

The Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols offered his condolences to the Duke of Kent, whom Katharine married in 1961. He assured him of the prayers of the Catholic community in England and Wales and said he recalled with fondness her participation to the pilgrimage to Lourdes as well as her lifetime of public service.

The Duchess was born in Yorkshire and married at York Minster. She held the freedom of York and in a statement, the Archbishop of York Most Rev Stephen Cottrell said she was a 'devout Christian' who was held in high esteem by all who knew and met her:

‘Katharine was an advocate for children and young people's welfare throughout her life. She taught and encouraged generations of young musicians. Millions will remember her comfort and kindness exemplified in her embrace of Jana Novotna in the final at Wimbledon whose Patron she was for many years. In 1994 her own deep and profound faith led her from Anglicanism to Roman Catholicism a moment the then Archbishop of Canterbury described as a ‘personal decision of a devout Christian on a spiritual journey’. She was held in high esteem by all who met her and knew her. I pray for the repose of her soul, and that HRH The Duke of Kent, their children and all the Royal Family may know the consolation and comfort that comes from our common Christian faith. May she Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.’