Iona Christian community appeals for help to restore buildings
A Christian community on the island of Iona off the western coast of Scotland is in dire need of help to have its buildings and utilities repaired, or it will be "unfit for purpose" in a number of years.
The Iona Christian community, which was founded by soldier and famous Church of Scotland minister George MacLeod, said that the abbey needs major work including installing upgraded plumbing as well as electrical and heating systems.
Although it was already repaired 50 years ago, the building has suffered from "piecemeal maintenance and sporadic upgrading of internal services" over the years, resulting in "patchwork repairs," the community told the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in a report.
The Iona Christians emphasized that if these needs are not met immediately, the building's sustainability will be at great risk.
"The impact of this on the island community of Iona would be catastrophic," the community's report further said.
Visitors who go to the historically significant abbey cause damages to the old building. In 1994, for example, thousands of people flocked to the abbey to visit the grave of Labour Party leader John Smith.
The Iona community is hoping to raise £1.5 million in donations for the repairs. However, by the end of 2015, it was only able to raise £275,000.
"This is the most demanding challenge the Iona Community has faced since the rebuilding of the abbey itself," community leader Rev. Peter Macdonald said, according to Herald Scotland.
The original Iona Abbey housed a monastic community founded by Irish monk Colomba. The building is made of stone and slate. To date, it has retained "a distinct monastic feel," something that guests look forward to when they visit.
People who book accommodations at the abbey get to enjoy doing everyday tasks like preparing meals, and they also enjoy the community through activities like the breaking of bread. Through these simple activities, many relationships are formed, relationships that "cross cultural barriers," abbey director Rosie Magee said in the report.
"Relationships are forged, sometimes unlikely ones, which cross cultural barriers and recognise our common search for significance and meaning in a hurting world," she said.
