Abbey in Iona

In 563, St. Columba landed on Iona and founded a monastery which became the center of Celtic Christianity. Iona is said to have been the first place from where he could not see his homeland, Ireland. Missionaries from Iona preached to the Northern Picts and their influence spread far into Northern England.   From Iona

Iona - The Sacred Isle in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland - Formed of some of the oldest rocks in the world, Iona is a place of great natural beauty where for centuries men and women have come on pilgrimage seeking guidance and renewal. Though only three miles long and a mile and a half wide, with a small village and crofting community, Iona's high moors and cliffs overlooking the sea carry a wildness and sense of sacred presence. Iona, some say, is a place where "the veil between the worlds is thin."  From An Iona Pilgrimage

The restored Iona Abbey, originally a medieval Benedictine foundation, welcomes up to 50 guests each week - as well as thousands of pilgrims every day during the summer months.

The Abbey provides neither a retreat house nor conference center, but offers a unique opportunity to live with people from all over the world and all walks of life. Guests and staff of the community share all aspects of life - meals, daily worship, program activities, chores and social events in a place which allows them to feel safe in exploring issues that challenge or concern them and to have space to reflect on their lives. Accommodation is mostly in bunk-bedded rooms for two, three, or four or five people. Disabled access is severely limited.

Many people who come to Iona return again - and again. George MacLeod described Iona as a "thin place" - only a tissue paper separating the material from the spiritual. To spend some time in such a historic and inspiring setting is to be open to challenge and the exploration of new horizons. From Iona Abbey

  Songs referenced: 

Twinkle