Colmcille's Legacy
The Abbey Church on Iona
This is a drawing of Iona Abbey. St. Colmcille founded a monastery on this site in 563 AD. Since then, there has always been a place of worship on the island. The abbey has been rebuilt many times through the centuries. Today, it belongs to the Church of Scotland.
Copyright David RossThe Abbey Church on Iona
Copyright David Ross
Copyright David Ross
The Abbey Church on Iona
This is a drawing of Iona Abbey. St. Colmcille founded a monastery on this site in 563 AD. Since then, there has always been a place of worship on the island. The abbey has been rebuilt many times through the centuries. Today, it belongs to the Church of Scotland.
Copyright David RossSt Colmcille is one of Ireland's patron saints. He shares this with St Patrick and St Bridget.
Iona is still a place of pilgrimage. It is the burial place of Scottish kings. When Colmcille and his monks first built it, the monastery on Iona was a simple building of timber, wattle and daub.
Around 1200, it was rebuilt as an Augustinian abbey. Up to the sixteenth century, the monastery continued to grow. After the Reformation it became derelict. During the twentieth century, it was restored and it is now managed by Historic Scotland.
Iona is still a place of pilgrimage. It is the burial place of Scottish kings. When Colmcille and his monks first built it, the monastery on Iona was a simple building of timber, wattle and daub.
Around 1200, it was rebuilt as an Augustinian abbey. Up to the sixteenth century, the monastery continued to grow. After the Reformation it became derelict. During the twentieth century, it was restored and it is now managed by Historic Scotland.