Two of Scotland’s largest churches have signed a landmark friendship agreement, pledging to walk more closely together in faith and service.

The Saint Ninian Declaration, signed in Edinburgh by Archbishop Leo Cushley for the Catholic Church and Bishop Mark Strange for the Scottish Episcopal Church, promises deeper co-operation while recognising ongoing differences.

At the ceremony, Archbishop Leo said that by "deepening the friendship, we strengthen our common witness to the Gospel in a world that longs for hope and reconciliation", as reported by The Herald.

Bishop Mark, signing on St Ninian’s feast day, added: "Through this act we in the Scottish Episcopal and Roman Catholic Churches are committing to walk forward together as friends, on the same journey of faith that Ninian started over a thousand years ago."

The declaration builds on other recent ecumenical agreements in Scotland, including the Saint Andrew Declaration between the Church of Scotland and the Episcopal Church, and the St Margaret Declaration between the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church.