Archie and Murdina MacPherson died in the storm

Archie and Murdina MacPherson, their children Andrew and Hannah, and grandfather Calum Campbell were swept away by tidal waters on South Uist.

Parish priest Father Michael MacDonald said prayer had united people.

He said: "The majority of our people are people of very deep faith, irrespective of denomination.

"I think that this is what our people turn to and we turn to what is familiar.

"What is familiar to us is the holding of our religious services, the celebration of our masses, the whole atmosphere of prayer and our confidence that the grace of God will out in the end, somehow or another in a manner which we may not understand completely."

I wouldn't say it's rocked my own faith but it's pushed me back on the support of God Rev Jacqueline Petrie

He added: "I think that, in the terms of the community, when it appeared to be the case that all involved had lost their lives, we prayed and we worked very, very hard that all the bodies would be found and between our prayers and the work of all these generous people we're just so relieved that everybody's body was found."

Rev Jacqueline Petrie held two services at South Uist Church of Scotland parishes at Daliburgh and Howmore, which members of the MacPherson family attended.

Father Roderick MacAulay led prayers at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, in the Griminish area, where Mr Campbell and his daughter Mrs MacPherson worshipped.

Rev Petrie said: "I wouldn't say it's rocked my own faith but it's pushed me back on the support of God. This disaster has left the community shocked and shattered.

"We need to support others at this time and the comfort given by the community to the family has been absolutely incredible and shows God's spirit moving in us all."

Prayers were said for Andrew, Hannah and the rest of their family

Andrew and Hannah attended Iochdar School and Mrs MacPherson was the school secretary.

Head teacher Mary MacInnes said staff were preparing to reopen the school on Monday amid great sadness but that they would offer support to all who need it.

She said: "The main message I will be giving to people is what can we do as individuals, every single one of us, to make it easier for the person beside us, for the person we're in contact with and most of all how can we help the families who actually lost their family members.

"The adults in the school have been briefed to an extent. There is an amazing amount of personal experience within the staff.

"These people will draw on their own experience. Many of them have had losses in their own lives before."

'Unflinchingly professional'

Western Isles MSP Alasdair Morrison paid tribute to staff.

Mr Morrison said: "The doors of the school open on Monday and I fully appreciate the enormous task that faces Mary MacInnes, who is a phenomenal lady.

"She and her staff will do that very delicate job over the next days, weeks and months.

"You can't prepare a family or a community for the type of tragedy that's occurred but I've known Mary MacInnes for many years and I've known some of the staff all my life."

Mr Morrison said staff were "compassionate, dedicated and unflinchingly professional individuals" who would offer great assistance to pupils.

"They will deal with the situation that they face on Monday and they will do that in a straightforward manner," he said.