Iona Community facts for kids
The Iona Community is a special Christian group. It was started in 1938 by George MacLeod. This group brings together men and women from many different Christian churches. They come from all walks of life.
The community has its main offices in Glasgow, Scotland. Their activities also happen on the islands of Iona and Mull. These islands are in Argyll and Bute.
Contents
A Community's Story: How it Began
The Iona Community started with a big idea from George MacLeod. He was a minister in the Church of Scotland in Glasgow. George wanted to help connect the church with everyday working people.
He took a group of ministers and workers to the island of Iona. Their goal was to rebuild the old Iona Abbey. This abbey was a ruined medieval building. The community grew from this shared work.
At first, the group was closely linked to the Church of Scotland. But later, they became more independent. This allowed them to work with many different Christian churches. They wanted to be a group that welcomed everyone.
The community asked for help to fix up the abbey. They needed money for the renovations. In May 2021, they got a huge boost. They raised £300,000, which they called the "Miracle in May." This money kept the building work going.
The abbey reopened in June 2021 after three years of work. Princess Anne attended the reopening. This event was even shown on the TV show Songs of Praise.
Life and Activities in the Iona Community
The Iona Community is a "dispersed community." This means its members live and work all over the world. There are about 270 full members. There are also around 1,800 associate members and 1,600 friends.
Members come from many Christian backgrounds. These include Presbyterians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Quakers, and Roman Catholics. Some members do not belong to any specific church. The community strongly believes in working together with all churches. They also care deeply about peace and justice for everyone.
The Iona Community has three places where people can stay. These are Iona Abbey and the MacLeod Centre on Iona island. The third is Camas Tuath on Mull. People can visit these centres for a week. They join in activities that match the community's goals.
Guests on Iona often go on a special walk around the island. This walk includes quiet times for thinking about what it means to follow Jesus. For example, when they reach the old marble quarry or the machair, they stop. The machair is a common grassy area where farmers once grazed sheep. Here, they think about work and being faithful.
The community uses its own special prayers and songs. These are used every day in the abbey and other places. Ruth Harvey, the community leader, explains that it's not like a hotel. People come to think and find inspiration. They explore important issues like the environment, poverty, and fairness. They do this within a Christian group in a beautiful place.
Music and Worship
The Iona Community is known for its unique songs and worship materials. These are created by the Wild Goose Resource Group in Glasgow. This group helps people create new ways to worship. They want worship to be meaningful and involve everyone. The current team includes Jo Love, Jane Bentley, and Iain McLarty.
The Wild Goose Resource Group started in 1987. It was founded by John L. Bell and Graham Maule. With others, they have made about 50 books and CDs. In the 1980s and 1990s, they helped bring songs from other cultures to churches. Many songs from South Africa became popular in the UK and beyond because of them.
Many churches have copied their ideas and practices. Songs and texts from the Wild Goose Resource Group have been published worldwide. They have been translated into many languages, including Swedish, Japanese, and German.
Leaders of the Community
The members of the Iona Community choose their leader. Here are the leaders so far:
- George MacLeod (1938-1967)
- Ian Reid (1967-1974)
- Graeme Brown (1974-1981)
- Ron Ferguson (1982-1988)
- John Harvey (1988-1995)
- Norman Shanks (1995-2002)
- Kathy Galloway (2002-2009)
- Peter MacDonald (2009-2017)
- Michael Marten (2017)
- Kathy Galloway and Caro Smyth (2017-2018)
- Kathy Galloway and Christian MacLean (2018-2020)
- Ruth Harvey (since 2020)
Well-Known Members
- Bruce Kenrick started the housing charity Shelter. He was a member.
- John L. Bell, a hymn-writer and minister, is a member.
- Graham Maule (1958-2019) helped start the Wild Goose Resource Group. He was a member.
- Alison Phipps is a professor at Glasgow University. She works with refugees and is a member.
Miles Christi: Soldiers for Christ
Miles Christi is a special name. George MacLeod, the founder, gave it to members of the Iona Community. It means "Soldier for Christ." This idea might come from Martin of Tours. He was a Roman soldier who became a Christian. He brought military discipline to Christian life.
Martin of Tours was a big inspiration for early Christians in Scotland. A tall stone cross, called St Martin's Cross, stands outside Iona Abbey today. This cross reminds people of him.
The name also means someone who stays on watch. The first Christian group on Iona was started by St Columba. They sent members to spread the Christian message on the mainland. But some members stayed behind on the island.
George MacLeod himself was a brave soldier in the First World War. He started the Iona Community just before the Second World War began.
Books and Publishing
The community has its own publishing group. It is called Wild Goose Publications. They create books about many topics. These include social justice, peace, and how to live a spiritual life. They also publish books on healing and new ways to worship.
Their publications include music, short plays, and materials for group discussions. Many of these works are by John L. Bell and the Wild Goose Resource Group.
