The story of George MacLeod and the shipyard workers of the Clyde is                 well-known. Many would answer 'Iona' to the question 'What Christian
            place do you know of in Argyll?'

         The Iona Community is based not in Iona but began its active life and
            raison-d'etre there. Its base is in Glasgow, where the 'action is' (so
            George would have said). It has a comprehensive website here and
            recent events in 2013 have celebrated 1450 years since Columba arrived
            on the island from Ireland. 2013 was also a time to celebrate 25 years
            since the MacLeod Centre was opened (as the 'new' Youth centre) and
            indeed 75 years since the very founding  of the Community from the
            work of MacLeod and the Clyde labourers sharing tasks and the building
            of community and a common life with masons and young would-be
            ministers in the Scottish church.
           
            That blending was key to the success of all that developed in the years
            afterwards and remains a powerful element in the life of the Community
            even today.

         At a service in the Abbey to mark the occasion on 19th May 2013 a
           sermon was given by Michael Russell MSP. The full text of his talk is here.
           Another contribution appeared in the Scottish Review of 11 June 2013 -
           an article by Maxwell MacLeod (the son of George). In that article
           he reminisces about life in the very early stages of the Community,
           thoughts stimulated by being present at a gathering in Govan on Saturday
         8th June.  Maxwell writes about his father with affection and realism and
           paints, as always, a picture of a man ahead of his time, but paradoxically,
           very much of his time. It's wonderful stuff - read the article here.