Bishop's House, Iona facts for kids
Bishop's House is a special quiet place on the island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland. It is used by the Scottish Episcopal Church for people to come and spend time in prayer and quiet thought.
Contents
The History of Bishop's House
Building a Special Place
Bishop's House was built in 1894. At that time, the famous Iona Abbey was still in ruins and not yet rebuilt. The house was created to give members of the Scottish Episcopal Church a place to stay on the island. It was first called Saint Columba's House. This name came from the small chapel inside, which was dedicated to Columba, a very important saint.
How Bishop's House Started
The idea for the house came from Bishop Alexander Chinnery-Haldane. He was the leader of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the area from 1883 to 1906. A year before the house was built, the 9th Duke of Argyll allowed the church to use the land. The goal was to create a place for "prayer, study, quiet thinking, and church services."
Even though a local church leader was not happy about it, the Duke and the Bishop continued to support the house. Bishop Chinnery-Haldane was very involved in the project. Because of his strong connection, the house soon became known as the Bishop's House, and that name has stayed ever since.
Life at the House Over Time
From 1896 to 1906, a group of church members called the Society of St. John the Evangelist lived at Bishop's House. The local church leader worried they were trying to get people to change churches. However, it seems they were more focused on fixing the leaky roof and finding quiet places to think. People on the island called them the "Cowley Fathers." They held church services and even hosted tea parties for the islanders.
Since then, Bishop's House has continued to be a quiet retreat for the Scottish Episcopal Church. More recently, a group called Island Retreats Ltd. has helped to run it. The chapel inside Bishop's House is open to everyone. It holds two services every day from March to October. In the winter, services are held once a week.
