Introduction

This evening, I am focusing on the world-famous, Iona Abbey. This is located on the island of Iona which lies off the Isle of Mull on the west of Scotland.

Information on Iona Abbey

Today, this is principally a spiritual retreat centred on the Iona Community. This Community can point to heritage dating from the arrival of St. Columba in AD 563. Columba founded an early Irish-Christian Monastery from where Christianity was re-introduced into Northern Britain.

A summary chronology post Columba is as follows:

• The Monastery and mission stimulated learning. The chief manifestation of the foundation is the Book of Kells which now resides at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. This dates from the 8th century and was taken to Kells in Ireland for safety in face of Viking raids.
• Large, free-standing stone crosses were constructed during the 8th century of which five survive.
• In the 12th and 13th centuries a Benedictine Abbey was founded which brought Iona into the religious mainstream.
• Most of the buildings survived the 1560 Reformation relatively undamaged but subsequently fell into disrepair.
• The Abbey and Nunnery buildings were repaired in the 19th century and the Abbey was re-roofed by 1910.
• In 1938 Dr. George MacLeod founded the Iona Community as a Church of Scotland brotherhood. This acted as a catalyst for further restoration in a programme which was completed in 1965.
• Most of the island of Iona is now owned and managed by heritage organisation, The National Trust for Scotland.

Access to Iona

Iona is accessed via ferry from Oban on the Scottish mainland. First, a ferry to Craignure on Mull followed by a motor transfer to Fionnphort  then a ferry transfer to Iona. Visitors are not usually permitted to take motor vehicles to Iona. The Abbey is accessed on foot. Entry fee applies.

More information

Information on Iona, Mull and all the principal Scottish islands can be found in Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This publication is also available via Kindle.