St Mary's Abbey / Cathedral (Iona)

Grid reference

NM 286 245 (accurate position)

Six-figure easting & northing

128600 724500

Latitude

56.33498230348545

Longitude

-6.391732083941716

County

Argyllshire

Nearby places

Cill Mo-Neachdain, eccles. KKV (Iona) (0.06 miles)

St Mary's Chapel, KKV (Iona) (0.09 miles)

Reilig Orain, KKV (Iona) (0.09 miles)

St Oran's Chapel, KKV (Iona) (0.09 miles)

Tobar Odhrain, KKV (Iona) (0.12 miles)

Object Classification

Antiquity

Ecclesiastical

Is linear feature?

No

Notes

This is the Benedictine Abbey which was erected on the site of the ancient Columban monastery in, or shortly before, 1203, not without considerable controversy. NMRS: In 1499 the church became the Cathedral of the Bishops of the Isles. The earliest dedication of the church (as distinct from the monastery?) to the Virgin is so far recorded c. 1695 by Martin Martin. He describes it as 'built in form of a cross, the Choir 20 Yards long, the Cupilo 21 foot square, the Body of the Church of equal length with the Choir, and the two cross Isles half that Length. There are two Chappels on each side of the Choir, the entry to them opens with large Pillars, neatly carved in Basso Relevio, ... The Altar is large and of as fine marble as any I ever saw.'

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/

Relationships with other parishes

Within Iona, former parish, KKV

Within Iona, former parish, KKV (formerly)

Within Kilfinichen & Kilvickeon, modern parish

Relationships with other places

Adjacent Reilig Orain, KKV (Iona)