Nowadays, it is almost impossible to believe that in Scotland in the great age of witch trials (1550 to 1700), nearly 4,000 innocent people – 84 per cent of whom were women – were tried as so-called witches under the Witchcraft Act 1563.

The murder of so-called witches is a crime instigated by God’s command in Exodus 22:18. For this reason some people believe that an apology is due from the Church of Scotland.

Interestingly, the Church’s Theological Forum has been working in this area and it will both report to the General Assembly and make material available on their website in the same time frame. Certainly, an apology for trying and executing individuals accused of witchcraft has been long in coming.

Readers' letters: Church of Scotland should apologise for hundreds of deaths