Iona Community

Who we are

The Iona Community is an international, ecumenical Christian movement working for justice and peace, the rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship.

Our Community was founded in Glasgow in 1938 by Rev George MacLeod. A visionary and a social reformer, MacLeod was driven by a belief that faith is grounded in action. In rebuilding the ruined accommodation at Iona Abbey, trainee ministers and unemployed workers lived, worked and worshipped together.

We are now about 280 Members and more than 2,000 Associate Members, Young Adults and Friends across the world. We remain true to that founding vision – sharing common work and community as we pursue justice and peace, in Scotland and beyond.

Our culture and values

Our Vision

What we ultimately long to see

We long for a just and peaceful world in which all of life can flourish.

Our Purpose

Why we exist

Inspired by our faith and loving concern for the world and its people, we pursue justice and peace in and through community.

The Impact we Imagine

How we hope lives may be changed

Our hope is that through our witness and work, ordinary people will be enabled to do extraordinary things in their local communities, through the Church and other organisations. It is in partnership with others that we can pursue social and environmental justice and peace.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

We welcome all individuals, regardless of race, age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion, or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage, or civil partnership, to our membership, our Island centres and we encourage all interested individuals to apply for vacancies.