Plans are being made for our move and where we will be worshipping from November onwards. This week we had a significant meeting with Pippa Osborne Headteacher at Christ Church Junior School and her team, where we will be welcomed for our 10.30am services during our Building4Life project. We are so very grateful to Pippa and […]
Wondering how to spend Tuesday 31st October? Come and spend time with your Church family in the first ever “trunk or treat” event in Downend. We will be having a big party outside in the Church car park, just off North Street, BS16 5SG from 5.30-6.30pm. Church members will come along with their car boot […]
Amazing News from our Building4Life team & the PCC. The next steps for our Building4Life project are now available. We have had a series of meetings, with the Building4Life team and then with the PCC and the following update is now available (Pdf, 60kb) There will be paper copies at Christ Church and The Church […]
Iona is described in Celtic writings as a ‘thin place.’ That is, a place where the space between heaven and earth barely exists. For me, this is experienced most powerfully of all on the beaches of the island. Though constantly changing with tides and weather conditions, these places have remained essentially unchanged since the time […]
The kitchen is the place of preparation so that meals can be served not just to sustain the community and guests physically but also so that people can eat together and build friendships over food in the way people have done down the centuries. Planning is of course a vital ingredient in this process, which […]
The Chapter House Today this space is used as a place to gather in small groups for worship and discussion, planning meetings, music practices etc. The day to day life of the Iona Community and what it stands for is portrayed on display boards. Visitors are left in no doubt of the community’s vision to […]
The Cloisters These four corridors around a central square provided a sacred space for monks to walk along, thoughtfully reflecting on their lives, the scriptures, their brothers in danger or just dreaming of what the future might hold. It was here that they would study the Bible and great spiritual classics. Many decisions must have […]
Stairs to the dormitory Leading directly from the spaces for worship and prayer, stillness and solitude are the stairs to the space for rest and rejuvenation. This staircase would have been used for the monks to ‘hurry in a dignified way’ to engage in ‘the work of God’, and no doubt hurry back to a […]
The choir and north and south transcepts Facing east, with the lectern to the left and marble altar. Listening to and reflecting on God’s word is an indispensable part of training in Christlikeness. Extensive research by the Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago has revealed that this discipline is the most potent catalyst in moving […]
The Nave Worship at the Abbey follows a regular pattern of short services, one at 9 in the morning and then at 9 in the evening. They are led by members of the community using the Iona Abbey Worship Book, liturgies that are fresh and creatively relevant to life in its rough and readiness. Music […]