Strathclyde Police said a post-mortem examination had taken place.

The church organist was on her way to prepare for the Sunday service when she discovered the woman, who is believed to have been partially-clothed.

The Reverend Roy Cowieson, the minister for St John’s, said: “When we heard that the lady had died we were extremely sorry that something like that would happen in Carluke and outside the church.”

The church cancelled its 1100 service on Sunday.

South Lanarkshire councillor Eileen Logan, who lives in Carluke, said: “Obviously the community is quite shocked and saddened.”

Related Sermon Thoughts:

• Indeed a tragedy. But even more of a tragedy than this are those who freeze to death spiritually – while INSIDE the household of faith.
• The woman in Judges who died while reaching for the door knob of her master’s house.
• We buried a man a couple of weeks ago who died over the Christmas break. He came in, I baptized him, he received the Holy Ghost, and then months later dropped out of site. The church beckoned to him many times, with no response. Still not sure the cause of death, but he expired alone in his apartment with no friends, lonely, a family who didn’t care, and a church who wishes he never left.
• 1 Peter 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?