Reverend Norman Shanks was arrested

Church of Scotland Minister, Reverend Norman Shanks, the leader of the Iona Community, was among those arrested.

He also suffered a similar fate at a Trident protest a year earlier.

But he told BBC Newsnight Scotland on Monday, the protest was not something he entered into lightly.

"What is happening at Faslane is a clear attempt on the part of those of us who are there from within the church to make a statement against violence, and to say that weapons of war - particularly the kinds of weapons that are represented by Trident missiles - are contrary to God's purpose for humanity," he said.

Speaking out

He said that being arrested was an ordeal, but part of the Christian faith involved putting yourself on the line.

"There is clear justification, both within the traditions of the church and on the basis of scripture, for people - whether ministers or lay people who have Christian convictions - to stand up and speak out for what they believe, even if that involves civil disobedience," he said.

"We believe that Trident represents something that is so significantly wrong and offensive, and such a huge waste of Britain's money in today's world, that this is justified.

Tommy Sheridan and George Galloway were also arrested

"The position of the church in Scotland is clearly against Trident. We are embodying the views within churches in Scotland today."

He said the UK Government had shown that it was not prepared to move on the issue.

"We have gone a long way down the road with all the alternatives," he said.

"The government refuses to talk to the people who are prominently involved with the Trident Ploughshares campaign."

He added that the level of support at the demonstration had been "tremendously encouraging".

'Nuisance' factor

Police have estimated the number of protesters at about 500, although he thought the figure was closer to the 1000 predicted by campaign organisers.

However, Conservative MSP Ben Wallace said the British people had been given the chance to vote for disarmament back in 1983 and had chosen not to do so.

Tory MSP Ben Wallace

And he said that blocking the road into Faslane amounted to "nuisance" rather than disobedience.

"If he is protesting to stop nuclear submarines you don't sit on the road. Nuclear submarines leave by the loch," he said.

He said the Rev Shanks did not speak for the whole church, pointing out that there were ministers and padres in the armed forces.

And he said nuclear weapons were cheaper when compared to conventional armed forces - and stressed that there was still a need for such a deterrent.

The biggest anti-nuclear protest seen in Scotland since the early 1960s was organised by anti-nuclear weapons group Trident Ploughshares and Scottish CND.

A number of protesters formed a human chain at the north gate entrance to the base at Helensburgh and they were cheered on by crowds on either side of the main gate who waved banners of support.