Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12
OLD CATHEDRAL OF IONA.
The Restoration of a Historical Island
Church

From the Pail Mall Gazette.
Six years ago the late Duke OF Argyll
conveyed the whole of the historic ruins on
the Island of Iona to trustees for the
Church of Scotland. His grace had for
nearly half a century taken a deep personal
interest In the preservation of the ecclesias-
teal and other relics on the worldfamous
island, and had In particular spent consid-
cradle sums in preserving the cathedral.
At the time he granted the deed of gift
its walls had been so strengthened and re-
paired that he considered the building At
to be reroofed. In the conveyance he de-
clared 1t to be his wish that 1t should be
reroofed and restored SO az to admit OF its
being used for public worship, and that the
other ruins should be carefully preserved.
On taking possession the trustees at once
set about raising funds and the work of
restoration was begun.
Staffa and Iona are visited every summer
by thousands of persons, attracted thither
in the one case by the natural wonders of
Fingars cave and in the other by memories
OF the great apostle to the northern Picts,
who. In the sixth century, made this distant
Hebridean isle center of devotion and of
learning.
The history of the little Isle begins in
500. when COLUMBIA. crossing the narrow
sea from Ireland, landed on Its shore with
twelve disciples. Here the small commun-
ity built waffle huts to live In and a chapel
of equally frail materials in which to wor
ship. The work of converting the northern
Picts was entered upon. Brude, their king
having embraced Christianity under the
preaching of Columbia. success became as
sured Soon the energies of the devoted
missionary and his disciples were taxed to
the utmost, instructing the ignorant and
mnisterng to both the spiritual and tenn
poral necessities of an ever-increasing
throng of devotees. At intervals they set
out on expeditions for the evangellzation
of distant tribes, and the wave of enthusi-
asm spread and rose higher and higher.
Churches were planted all over the country
and faithful students, instructed and Or
dalned at the parent monastery, went forth
to form new centers of spiritual influence.
When Columbia died. in 59I. Iona had a
high reputation. and down to nearly the
end of the eighth century the monastery he
had founded was one of the most renowned
in the British Isles. In 100 however, the
buildings were burned by the fierce Morse
men, who also again and again during the
ninth and tenth centuries devastated the
island In the twelfth century. after the
suppression of the Columbian Order (the
Culdees) two Roman orders of monks, Ben
edictnes and Augustines, established them
selves on Iona, and these flourished down
to the time of the Scottish reformation
After that event the island with its various
religious houses, passed into the possession
of the family OF Argyll.
The most ancient OF the ruins those
L
only the bare walls now remain, is thought
TO have been built by the famous Queen
Margaret wife of Malcolm Canmore and
sister of Edgar Athelng, and is also be-
leved to have been the first building of
note on the island. The cathedral $50 II Is
always styled, although, In strict accuracy,
Il is but the abbey church, belongs to a
later period-the end of the twelfth century
or the beginning of the thirteenth. 1t must
have been d building OF considerable archi-
tectural pretenslons In its day. and in it's
restoration effort is being made TO bring
1t as nearly as possible to what Is believed
to have been its original appearance
OF the cloisters and the library Ga library
so renowned that Pope Plus was credited
with the intention TO visit III little remains
These buildings stood to the north of the
church, and at a short distance from them
was nunnery, of which only some ruins
now exist. Surrounding ST. Grams Chapel
is the famous burial place known as the
Reieag Oran, where lie kings of Scotland
OF ictland, of Ireland and even of far-off
Norway. For centuries the soil of Iona
was regarded as sacred. and burial here
was esteemed a high honor and a great
privilege. not only among the Celtic races.
out also among those of northern Europe
The tombstones in the Reiieag Oran are
considered by many the most interesting
relics in Iona. Unquestionably they are the
most ancient
Although the pristine glory of Iona has
long since departed this early shrine of
Christianity continues to be held in high
honor by all churches.