Iona Community hails Queen's ability to heal

The Iona Community has paid tribute to the late Queen's ability to reconcile divided communities.

 

On the day of her death, it said: 'The Iona Community is saddened to hear of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II this evening.

 

'Inspired by her faith, the Queen valued the power of forgiveness to heal, restore and reconcile divided communities.

 

'We echo her words that: “When peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place.”

 

'We, the Iona Community, believe that in our living and in our dying we belong to God.

 

'We send our thoughts and prayers to the Queen’s family at this time.'

 

The quote is attributed to the Queen’s Christmas speech in December 1940.

 

The statement was accompanied by a photograph of the Queen Elizabeth II visiting the Isle of Iona in August 1956.

 

The Royal Tour, with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh accompanied by Princess Margaret, began on the Sunday when the party attended divine service at Iona, reported The Oban Times.

 

As early as 7.30am people from the Ross of Mull and further a field queued at the slipway at Fionnphort to catch the ferry to Iona and islanders packed the roadside from the jetty to the abbey to cheer the Royal party.

 

The Duke of Edinburgh read one of the lessons during the service, which also included the dedication of the carved oak screen in the North Trancept, used as a place of meditation, which had been provided with money gifted by the Queen when she was Princess Elizabeth.

 

The Iona Community is 'an international, ecumenical Christian movement working for justice and peace, the rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship'. Its thousands of members 'remain true to that founding vision – sharing common work and community as we pursue justice and peace, in Scotland and beyond'.