IONA: ABBEY CENTRE

A Resident Group of staff and volunteers share a year-round common life, and maintain daily services of worship in the Abbey church.

They welcome guests to share all aspects of their life, including meals and work tasks, and to explore issues of common concern, including trade justice, the environment, peace-making, inclusion and diversity, and interfaith dialogue.

Guests who join us in community will live in the newly refurbished living quarters of Iona Abbey adjacent to the twelfth century Abbey Church in which there is daily worship. Built of stone and slate, these buildings have been made fit for purpose for the twenty-first century.

A recent renovation, including a lift and accessible bedrooms, extensive insulation and full refurbishment of all bedrooms and bathrooms means that our living space is accessible to all and comfortable all year round. You can watch a series of films from the reopening of the Abbey in 2021, after the renovations.

Corridors and staircases link the shared bedrooms with the washrooms, the Refectory (where we eat), the Abbey Cloisters and the Abbey Church itself. The Chapter House, the Common Room, large and small meeting rooms, and the Ritchie Library are all available to our guests.

The Abbey Church is under the care of Historic Environment Scotland which is responsible for the upkeep of the fabric, the grounds and the museum.