33-568: The Iona Community , founded in 1938 by George MacLeod , is an ecumenical Christian community of people from different walks of life and different traditions within Christianity . It and its publishing house, Wild Goose Publications, are headquartered in Glasgow , Scotland , and its activities take place on the islands of Iona and Mull , in Argyll and Bute and in Glasgow . The community began as
66-554: A man who had been described as being "half way to Rome and half way to Moscow" should be Moderator. On 6 February 1967, MacLeod was awarded a peerage , becoming Baron MacLeod of Fuinary , of Fuinary in Morven in the County of Argyll ; the only Church of Scotland minister to have been thus honoured. He was introduced to the House on 15 February 1967. He later became the first peer to represent
99-558: A maverick, he helped to raise awareness of pacificism , ecumenism and social justice issues, and inspired many to become involved with such questions. Through the creation of the Iona Community , he was a pioneer of new forms of ministry (outside more conventional parish or chaplaincy structures). In 1989 MacLeod received the Templeton Prize . Bruce Kenrick Rev Bruce Kenrick (18 January 1920 – 15 January 2007)
132-448: A profound spiritual experience, feeling a sense of recovery of the Church as the corporate Body of Christ . This would strongly influence the rest of his life. He resigned (giving up the financial security of a parish minister's stipend ) to become the full-time leader of the Iona Community , which he founded in 1938. His efforts started in the early 1930s when he bought Fingleton Mill as
165-567: A project led by George MacLeod, a minister of the Church of Scotland in Govan , Glasgow, to close the gap which he perceived between the church and working people. He took a group of ministers and working men to Iona to rebuild the ruined medieval Iona Abbey together. The community which grew out of this was initially under the supervision of an Iona Community Board reporting to the General Assembly of
198-558: A refuge for Glasgow's poor. The idea of rebuilding Iona Abbey using ministers, students and unemployed labourers working together influenced his thinking; the Iona Community developed as an international ecumenical community, with offices in Govan and a presence on the island of Iona . Underpinning the fellowship of the Community were four emphases: mission, political involvement, a ministry of healing, and worship, by which MacLeod and
231-471: A strong commitment to ecumenism and to peace and justice issues. The Iona Community runs three residential centres: Iona Abbey and the MacLeod Centre on the island of Iona, and Camas Tuath on Mull . Weeks at the centres often follow a programme related to the concerns of the Iona Community, and people are invited to come and share the life. A regular feature for guests staying in our centre on Iona
264-594: Is a member of the Iona Community. Graham Maule (1958-2019), youth leader and founder member of the Wild Goose Resource Group, was a member. Non-binary minister Alex Clare-Young is a member and the moderator of the Community's LGBTQ+ Common Concern Network. Alison Phipps , first UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts and at Glasgow University is a member. Miles Christi
297-434: Is a pilgrimage around the island which includes meditations on discipleship; when the pilgrims reach the disused marble quarry or the machair , the common ground where the crofters once grazed sheep, for example, they stop for reflection on work and faithfulness. The community has its own ecumenical liturgy which is used daily in the abbey and elsewhere. Speaking about the visitor experience, Ruth Harvey, leader of
330-598: The Green Party . From 1968 to 1971, he was Rector of the University of Glasgow . The rector is one of the most senior posts at the University of Glasgow and is elected by the students. George MacLeod's influence on the Church of Scotland was considerable. His initial emphasis on parish mission was generally welcomed and favourably compared to the campaigns of his contemporary, D.P. Thomson . Although dismissed by some as
363-695: The Peace Pledge Union (PPU), and from 1958 with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). Meanwhile, in 1930, to considerable surprise, he decided to leave St Cuthbert's Church to become minister at Govan Old Parish Church —encountering the considerable social problems caused by poverty in this part of Glasgow. The pace of work took its toll and in 1932 he suffered a breakdown . He spent some time recuperating in Jerusalem in early 1933. While worshipping in an Eastern Orthodox Church on Easter Day he felt
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#1732851776549396-657: The Wild Goose Resource Group , based in Glasgow. The Group exists to encourage, enable and equip the shaping and creation of new forms of worship that are relevant, contextual and participatory. The current team consists of Jo Love, Jane Bentley and Iain McLarty. The Wild Goose Resource Group was founded in 1987 by John L. Bell and Graham Maule. With their collaborators the Wild Goose Worship Group and more recently
429-508: The Church of Scotland , but later the formal links with the Church of Scotland were loosened to allow the community more scope for ecumenical involvement. The community appealed for funds to renovate the abbey leading to its re-opening, attended by Princess Anne , patron of the appeal, after a three-year closure in June 2021. The project was blessed by the "Miracle in May", when fundraising in May obtained
462-481: The Community sought a way to connect the Church with an industrial age. He led a series of parish missions (sometimes known as a 'Message of Friendship') in Scottish parishes associated with the Community, and supported the 1950 Glasgow Churches' Campaign and the 1950s Tell Scotland Movement . However, he opposed the invitation promoted by Rev. Tom Allan to Dr Billy Graham that led to the 1955 All-Scotland Crusade. He
495-770: The Wild Goose Collective, the WGRG have produced around 50 published books and CDs. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Wild Goose Worship Group was influential in introducing songs from other cultures (particularly those from South Africa) to the repertoire of churches in the UK and elsewhere. The approaches and practices of the Wild Goose Resource Group have been widely imitated and written about. Collections of Wild Goose Resource Group songs and texts have been published internationally, including translations into Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Japanese, Dutch, West Frisian, Danish and German. The leader of
528-540: The community is elected by the members. The leaders to date are: Bruce Kenrick , the founder of housing organisation Shelter , was a member. Maxwell Craig , first general secretary of Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS), was a member. Douglas Haldane (1926-2012), child psychiatrist was a member of the community. Helen Steven , was Justice and Peace Worker for the Iona Community from 1979 to 1985. John Bell , hymn-writer and Church of Scotland minister,
561-400: The community, said: "This is not a hotel or a conference centre. People come for reflection and inspiration, and to explore issues of importance – the environment, poverty, migration, equality – in the context of a Christian community and in a beautiful, rugged landscape." Amongst the most widely known song and liturgical material from the Iona Community is the experimental worship developed by
594-873: The entrance to the Church of Iona Abbey . The image also reflects a tradition of someone remaining on watch. The early Christian Community on Iona founded by St Columba sent members out to evangelise mainland Scotland and beyond, with some members remaining behind. George MacLeod had been a decorated soldier in the First World War . He founded the Iona Community just before the outbreak of the Second World War . The community's publishing group, Wild Goose Publications, produces books on social justice , political and peace issues, holistic spirituality , healing , and innovative approaches to worship , including music (books, tapes, CDs), short drama scripts and material for personal reflection and group discussion. Many of these are
627-437: The hastily-organised line of defence when no company officers remained. He carried out his duties as adjutant as well, and was of the greatest assistance in keeping cohesion. His experience of this total war profoundly affected MacLeod, leading him to train for the ministry. He studied divinity at the University of Edinburgh , followed by a year at Union Theological Seminary , New York City (1921-1922). Upon return to Scotland he
660-536: The island of Iona and served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1957). He was born in Glasgow in 1895. His father (Sir John MacLeod ) was a successful businessman before entering politics as a Unionist MP; his mother Edith was from a wealthy Lancastrian family (owning cotton mills). From this background and heir to a baronetcy, George MacLeod was educated at Winchester College and Oriel College, Oxford . His paternal grandfather
693-527: The poor housing conditions, Kenrick set up the Notting Hill Housing Trust , which maintained the fabric of the area. The early days were not easy . It was out of the desire to put national pressure on local government to improve housing that Shelter was born at St Martin in the Fields in 1966. After a dispute over the leadership of the organisation with Des Wilson , Kenrick left Shelter. He remained
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#1732851776549726-651: The war he decided to pursue a career as a doctor. He attended the University of Edinburgh where he switched to divinity, having engaged in missionary work. Kenrick went to work in the East Harlem Protestant parish project, which was attached to Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York . On his return to the UK he was ordained and went to work in Notting Hill , London - then an area marked by racial tension and bad landlords like Peter Rachman . In response to
759-473: The wedding they travelled to Australia for a preaching tour. The 1940s and early 1950s were a difficult period professionally. MacLeod was involved in what became known as the "Govan Case." He was invited by the congregation to return to Govan Old Parish Church in 1948, but the Presbytery of Glasgow refused to approve his appointment, given his wish to continue his active leadership of the Iona Community. The case
792-402: The work of John L. Bell and the Wild Goose Resource Group. George MacLeod George Fielden MacLeod, Baron MacLeod of Fuinary , Bt , MC (17 June 1895 – 27 June 1991) was a Scottish soldier and clergyman; he was one of the best known, most influential and unconventional Church of Scotland ministers of the 20th century. He was the founder of the Iona Community on
825-501: The £300,000 needed to keep contractors working. The re-opening was featured in Songs of Praise . 24 June 2021 The Iona Community is a dispersed community. It has members who work and live throughout the world. There are 270 Members, around 1,800 Associate Members and 1,600 Friends of the Community. Among them are Presbyterians , Anglicans , Lutherans , Quakers , Roman Catholics and people of no denominational allegiance. The community has
858-452: Was a name given to the members of the Iona Community by its founder George MacLeod . The origin of this image of being a Soldier for Christ may have its roots in Martin of Tours who as a former Roman soldier applied similar discipline to Christian life and was a great inspiration to the early Church in Scotland. St Martin's Cross , a high Celtic Cross carved in stone, stands to this day outside
891-735: Was an English social activist and Minister in the United Reformed Church and the Church of Scotland . He is best known for writing "Come out the Wilderness" and as the founder of British housing organisation Shelter . Bruce Kenrick was born in Liverpool and initially trained as an accountant. World War II broke out before he turned 20, and he saw service as a medic in the Gold Coast Defence Force and with paratroopers in Italy. After
924-399: Was invited to become Assistant at St Giles' Cathedral . During this period he became increasingly concerned over the issue of social inequality in Scotland. In 1924 he was ordained as a Church of Scotland minister, to be Padre of Toc H (Talbot House) in Scotland. Such non-parochial appointments were extremely unusual at the time. Following a disagreement, he resigned from Toc H in 1926, but
957-453: Was invited to become associate minister at St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh . His wartime experiences, combined with a profound disillusionment by post-World War I political rhetoric of "a land fit for heroes," deeply affected him. Confronted by the realities of the depression and unemployment faced by those less privileged than he, MacLeod gradually moved towards supporting socialism and pacifism . From 1937 he became actively involved with
990-618: Was one of the signatories of the agreement to convene a convention for drafting a world constitution . As a result, for the first time in human history, a World Constituent Assembly convened to draft and adopt the Constitution for the Federation of Earth . During World War II, he served as locum minister at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh—;a parish also then afflicted by poverty. In 1948 (aged 53) he married Lorna; immediately after
1023-414: Was referred to the General Assembly; ultimately he was refused permission to combine the two posts. Despite a feeling of hurt and rejection over the "Govan Case", MacLeod remained one of the highest-profile figures in the Church of Scotland . In 1957 he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , following one Commissioner standing up and asking whether it was appropriate that
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1056-652: Was sent back to Scotland to recuperate, after which he was posted to Flanders . On 24 June 1917, he was made an adjutant and promoted to acting captain . He saw action at Ypres and Passchendaele . He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in October 1917, and the French Croix de Guerre with palm for bravery in 1918. T./Lt. George Fielden MacLeod, Arg. & Suth'd Highrs. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as adjutant, volunteering to go out and do duty in
1089-673: Was the highly respected Revd Norman MacLeod of the Barony Church , Glasgow , a Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Chaplain to Queen Victoria . Upon the outbreak of the First World War , and having been a cadet in the Officers Training Corps , MacLeod was commissioned in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders , British Army, as a temporary second lieutenant on 19 September 1914. He first saw active service in Greece. After falling ill with dysentery , he
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