Save Iona! Scots call on Christians for help

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 17

Save Iona! Scots call on Christians for help

By

KEN COATES,

iii London

A n urgently-needed peat-fired central heating system might help save the historic abbey buildings on the isle of lona, off the Scottish coast. Condensation inside the centuries old abbey church is causing serious crumbling. Experts say that without a heating system, which could be fuelled by peat from the Ross of Mull, deterioration will accelerate.

For 14 centuries, lona has had special significance for Christians. Il was in the sixth century that the first Irish saints arrived. Saint Columba and his followers carried the gosepl to Scotland and the north' of England. Remains of their simple wattle and daub cells have long since disappeared and monastic buildings established later were burned by the Vikings at least three times. The Benedectine monastery was founded in 1200, but after the Reformation monastic life ceased and the buildings fell into ruin. Yet, a quarter of a million people from many parts of the world make visits to lona each year. ■For Scots, the island has special significance. On it is the oldest Christian burial place in Scotland. For two centuries, the kings of Scotland, 48 of them, were buried in the Reilig Odhrain, among them Duncan and his murderer, Macbeth. Already once this century the ancient abbey buildings have been restored. The eighth Duke of Argyll, whose family has owned lona since 1693, entrusted the buildings and sites to the care of the lona Cathedral Trust. The trust consists of office bearers of the Church of Scotland and Scottish universities. The lona Christian community lives and worships in the ancient buildings.

Earlier this year the island was put up for sale, and it seemed as though this part of the country’s heritage might be sold to an American buyer. But the Hugh Fraser Foundation, established by Sir Hugh Fraser, the Scottish department store millionaire and owner of Harrods, bought the island as a gift to the nation.

Even so, the future of the heart of the isle, the abbey, and surrounding buildings, is still far from certain. It is possible the island might eventually be handed to the National Trust for Scotland (not Government funded). But, contrary to recent reports, this has not yet been decided. The cathedral trustees

have no resources with which to carry out /urgent repairs needed' now. Harsh weather has brought deterioration of the beautiful walls of the m'edieval nunnery. Rain leaks into the abbey library and St Oran’s Chapel, and it is feared the buildings’ . use may have to be restricted. Because it was the wish of the eighth Duke of Ar-

gyll that Christians of all denominations should worship in the abbey church, key members of major Scottish churches met on the island recently to discuss a joint restoration move. They flew to lona in a helicopter and aircraft provided by British Petroleum. After considering architects’ reports and in-

specting the ancient buildings, they estimated that the total bill will be SIM, but half of that sum is needed immediately. They are looking to New Zealand and other countries around the world for support in saving the buildings. An appeal committee of the lona Cathedral

Trustees has been set up, with the Scottish industrialist, Sir William Lithgow, as chairman. “If dereliction is allowed to recur, as happened earlier in the history of these buildings, the abandoned ruins would stand as a monument of shame to all Christians," Sir William says.