Scotland Presbyterian Heritage Pilgrimage, Iona, 18 July

Yesterday we went to Iona. It was my first time on Iona as a day-tripper, and of course I found myself wishing we could fit far more in! But we made the most of the few hours we had on the island, and it was fun to share Iona with church folk. Since it was raining when we got off the ferry (it’s just a ten minute ferry across the Sound of Iona from Mull) we didn’t linger in the Nunnery ruins and garden on the way up to the Abbey. Even though I was here two years ago, I’m still adjusting to how different things are since I worked here 32 years ago with the Abbey now in the care and management of Historic Scotland. The Iona Community is still there of course, but it’s very different to visit the Abbey now with a gate house and fee to get in. But it is still a wonderful place to be and they have done such a good job with the museum, which has three of the standing crosses, many carved grave slabs, and historical information.

The Benedictine Abbey dates from the 12th century, and is more or less on the site of Columba’s original 6th century monastery.

After visiting the Abbey and finding some lunch we walked to the North End. We started off in rain but had some sun by the time we got there.

It is always hard to leave Iona, but I know I’ll be back. There is something deeply meaningful about being in a place where people have worshipped and prayed for centuries. It’s like the stones are holding the energy of all those eons of prayer.