St.Columba's Abbey Church Tower, Iona, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.
Posted by: 
greysman
N 56° 20.098 W 006° 23.489
29V E 661256 N 6246417
This magnificent Abbey Church tower has one bell.
Waymark Code: WMHY8K
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/26/2013
Views: 2
Iona Abbey is one of Scotland’s most historic and sacred sites founded by St.Columba and his Irish followers in AD 563. The island is a celebrated focus for Christian pilgrimage and retains its spiritual atmosphere and remains an enduring symbol of worship.
The Abbey Church on Iona had fallen into a ruinous state after the dissolution of the monasteries but it has been restored to full glory, beginning in the early 20th century, whilst work on restoring the living accommodation began in 1938 following the foundation of the Iona Community. Today the Iona Community continues the tradition of worship first established by St.Columba 1450 years ago. The final piece of the tower's glory was the addition of the gabled loft in the early C21st.
The single bell in the tower was cast by John Taylor and Co. in 1931. It weighs just over 22cwt, 1125.83kg and sounds the note C#, 575Hz, and is 50.43", 1.281m, in diameter. It is hung dead and sounded by pulling the clapper onto the bell sound bow using a bell rope hanging down into the area below the central tower. It is regularly used to call worshipers to the evening services.
Address of Tower:
St.Columba's Abbey Church
Island of Iona, , Argyll & Bute Scotland
PA76 6SN
Still Operational: yes
Number of bells in tower?: 1
Rate tower: 
Tours or visits allowed in tower?: Unknown
Relevant website?: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please post an original picture of the tower taken while you were there. Please also record how you came to be at this tower and any other interesting information you learned about it while there.