This year the third form has been asked to do our annual religious studies project on the spread of Christianity throughout Britain. I have decided to talk about the small island of Iona, just off the west coast of Scotland. From this uninhabited little island a remarkable Irish missionary called Columba, set up a monastery from where monks travelled throughout the country dedicated to spread the word of God.

Firstly before I tell you a lot more about this man Columba, later named St.Columba, I will just tell you about the origins of Christianity. During the Dark ages of Europe, (they are called the Dark ages because we do not know a lot about this period in time), some amazing men and women (such as Patrick, Brigid and Hilda) were inspired by this new experience of Christianity and travelled far and wide, from Ireland to Scotland, through Wales, Northern England right down to South West Britain. Talking to the people about the gospels of Jesus, and preaching the word of Christ to all who would listen, rather like disciples. Originally you were only named a Saint if you were at the resurrection of Christ, in later and more recent times saints were appointed by the Church for their wiseness and dedication to God. They took Christianity to new countries by travelling to places such as France, Southern Italy, Ukraine, Iceland and to the Faroes. These were great feats for people in these times, as obviously trains, cars, aeroplanes and so forth, had not been invented yet and travel was always slow and often dangerous. The legacy of these travels are the monasteries they left behind them as a dedication to their Order, and to act as a focus for continued religious education and observance.

Columba was a Celtic Saint. These Saints were very different to the Roman Saints and Monks. He would have worn simple clothing, the same as the Celtic Monks would have worn. All Celtic monks carried a bachol, (a walking stick), shaved the FRONT of their head, (instead of the usual Roman haircut, called a tonsure, which represented a CROWN of thorns, by shaving the front, it showed the CAP of thorns). They also wore a cloak, and a shorter habit then the Roman design, (this made it easier for them to travel about in), and comfy shoes, for the same purpose. They also carried a bag that held a bell (the monk rang this as soon as he was nearing the village to tell them he was approaching), a bible, (to read to the people from) and a prayer book (for his own prayers).

St. Columba, also known as ‘Dove of the Church’, was a keen scholar and an eager sailor, born and educated in Ireland on 7^th of December 521 AD. His parents were Fedhlimdh and Eithne of Ui Neill clan in Gartan (Donegal). Columba was interested in the Church at a very early age, and as soon as he was old enough, he joined a monastery at Moville, and was soon ordained a deacon by St. Finnian himself. He trained very hard with Gemman before becoming a priest, ordained by Etchen, the Bishop of Clonfad. Columba signed up straight away to go to a monastery, and soon he was admitted to the monastery of Mobhi Clarainech. Unfortunately, just as he was settling down there, the monastery had a breakout of disease, and it had to be closed, forcing Columba out of the little monastery he had so far grown to love and become attached to. As a result he decided to move to Londonderry, and while he was there he decided to copy out Finnian’s psalter, without asking his permission. Finnian was so angry that he devalued the book making Columba rather cross. Finnian even went so far as to go to the high King Dermott for advice, but unfortunately for Columba, Dermott sided with Finnian. Columba was stubborn though, and refused to hand over the book. So Dermott informed the military and they attacked the clan of Columba. But Columba beat them, but alas, there was much bloodshed, and Columba was so mortified that he moved away from Ireland promising God the same amount of new souls as were killed in battle. He apparently chose the desolate island of Iona because he could not see his home shores from where he was, and he wouldn’t pine for his beloved home. There, with 12 other devoted friends, he made his way through Scotland, teaching and reaching out to many people, until he was about 40 years of age.

There in Iona, this one man renovated an old monastery that was in disarray, which became a role model for other great Celtic monasteries. Their way of life was that the monks lived for God and for God only, that they prayed continuously, offered their services and hospitality to all in need of it, only talked about the scriptures and of God, eat, only when they really needed it and slept only when they were tired. Working brothers concentrated on collecting food by farming and fishing, (they produced all their own food by growing it or catching it, every monastery or nunnery had a large pond full of fish, as they never ate other meats). While novices studied and prepared for taking their monastic vows, sort of exams which proved to the abbot and the brothers that they were deadly serious about worshipping God and living a hard life of prayer. According to the chronicler of the Celtic Church in the 8^th century, Bede, the people of Iona were characterised by ‘their purity of life, love of God and loyalty to the monastic rule.’

Rumour has it that one-day, while Columba was out for a stroll enjoying the beauty and tranquillity of Iona, he came across a woman gathering nettles to make some soup, as her cow had not yet calved. Reflecting on this, Columba decided that he too would eat only nettle soup. He said, ‘If this woman eats nettles in expectation of a calf, how much more should I in expectation of Christ’s kingdom.’ The monk, who cooked Columba’s food, was worried for his beloved Abbot’s health, so he added milk to the recipe. The abbot adored the nettle soup, and urged other people to eat it too, but as they did not have an endless supply of milk, they soon ran out. The cook was in a bit of a stew (get it?) and soon returned to Columba to confess that he was supplementing extra ingredients into the meal. Columba only laughed when he heard this, and said, ‘It is God’s joke on me. It was only pride that led me to tell others of my special diet, so I deserved to be tricked.’

As the community of Iona expanded, so its influence grew with it, and kings and queens journeyed far for Columba’s wise advice. Sons and daughters of royalty were sent to Iona and Columba, to teach them about the scriptures and the arts. Columba and his monks also journeyed far and wide to many churches and monastic centres, spreading the word of God in hope that people would join them, or at least understand and acknowledge the wisdom and glory of Christ.

When Columba finally died in 597 AD, on June the 9^th, he left behind him a legacy of hundreds of new Christians, a beautiful hand-made abbey in Iona and a rich inheritance of peace and calmness, previously unknown to all the kingdoms in Scotland.

However, this tranquil haven was not to be, as savage Viking settler’s invaded Iona, along with other communities such as ones in Northumbria, Scotland and Ireland. Sadly, life on Iona soon became uneventful and boring without their treasured Abbot Columba with them any more. Slowly, many people who had lived and grown into fabulous people, drifted away from the beautiful island, many never seeing those inviting shores again. They returned to Ireland, their original homeland where Columba first found and brought them to Iona with him, taking their libraries full of hand-written manuscripts, many written by Columba himself.

Columba’s biographer also said that in the week before his sad death, he ventured around the island Iona, enthusiastically blessing and urging people to turn to God. As he was resting by the road-side, tired from the long days work, one of his favourite horses, who he frequently visited, came and placed his head on the old man’s chest, apparently sensing his nearing death. Columba’s attendant hurried over to shoo the horse away from his precious master, but Columba stopped him, saying, ‘You, a man of rational soul, can know nothing of my departure except what I tell you. This dumb creature, possessing no reason, has been told by almighty Creator himself, that I am departing from this place sooner then you may think.’ Columba, in Gaelic ‘Columcille’, the Dove of the Church, is believed to have died at the altar of his own church, his face absolutely radiant with joy, and his hand outstretched in blessing.

Now we come to the modern aspect of things, as although Iona is very old, and was in disrepair for quite some time, the beautiful island is still very popular and people have opened it up to the public to come and visit, or to have a quiet time to themselves to relax, pray and take in the wonderful scenery and surroundings. People such as sightseers, pilgrims and tourists make the island a very popular place to visit just for the day, and take a tour to hear about some of the fabulous stories that happened many years ago with Columba and his monks. Many people like to take a picnic to Iona for the afternoon and bask in the tranquillity of the island.

It is also very popular for keen bird-watchers and naturists to go down and study the wildlife, as this isolated place has many rare species of fauna and flora.

A man called Reverend George Macleod decided, in the year 1938, to rebuild the monastery on Iona. He was a parish minister in Glasgow then, but he was so interested in Columba’s work that he decided to renovate the old monastery and bring a part of Columba back to the Iona community. The Iona community is now an ecumenical Christian community desperate to seek new ways of living the Gospel in today’s, dare I say harsh, world. Initially, rebuilding the monastic quarters of the medieval abbey of Iona itself brought about expressing their purpose of living the gospel, and they pursued their interests also by travelling through Scotland and beyond, finding people to find their inner selves and join God. The Iona community today has 240 members, over 1500 Associate members and 1500 friends.

The members, men and women drawn from across the globe, are committed to a rule, which includes a daily devotion, which is the basis of their religious commitment to the Order. They must also learn to share and account for their use of time and money in a series of regular meetings. The community’s main headquarters is situated in Glasgow, and it serves as a base for work with young people; is the site for the bi-monthly magazine called the ‘Wild Goose Resource and Worship Groups,’ and also a publishing house called ‘Wild Goose Publications.’ It is here they address the constant and unchanging requirement of any secular organisation dedicated to the welfare of the planet, its people and their religious future. This involves a wide variety of tasks such as: publicising peace and social justice, supporting the poor and oppressed, fighting the unending battle against racism and highlighting man’s unrelenting and selfish abuse of the global environment.

The founding work of the Rev George MacLeod lives on in those who now carry on the vital work of the Iona Community. Meanwhile others have taken up the mantle of St Columba, and broadened his message to cover communities and nations across the world. As you can now see, the legacy of Columba lives on and thrives in the hearts and minds of thousands of people.