Ramily picture pages > Inchcolm - St. Columba's Island
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morning on the Forth
Bright and early, our congregation meets to board the ferry up the Firth of Forth to Inchcolm Abbey. The boys can't wait!
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Forth rail bridge
There's an old British saying, 'It's like painting the forth rail bridge,' which means, an unending process. By the time you get to the end, it's years later and time to start over at the other end again. Can't you see why?
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looking for seals...
On the trip down the Forth, there is much to see. The old manor of the Earl of Murray that was the site of the great Protestant Battle during the Reformation, World War II forts that guarded Edinburgh from Nazi submarines, the oil depot at the end of the great North Sea pipeline, the view of Edinburgh, and of course, dolphins, puffins and seals. We did not see any dolphins today, but two out of three isn't bad!
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Almost to the 'Inch'
Approaching the island, the 'Inch', you can see the Abbey.
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Inchcolm Abbey
Built between 1100 and 1150, the Abbey is a bit ruinous now. But the cloister and chapter house are in great shape and gorgeous. It is one of those thin places related to the Celtic saints, Columba in this case, and worship here is truly participation in the communion of saints.
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the Abbey ruins
Unfortunately, the part of the Abbey that is in ruins is the sanctuary! But some of the walls attached to the cloister are still up, and the footprint is in place.
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transcept chapels
Here is a view into the south transcept. You can still see where the two altars were, and the piscina niches in the wall.
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the original altar stone
Here is the original altar stone. After the church fell into ruin, it was used as a grave cover. But the five crosses representing the five wounds of Christ told its finders that it was indeed the old altar. So, it was returned to its original place within the Abbey, and is still used by pilgrims like us for worship.
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a dip in the Forth...
Our rector, Alison and a couple of parishioners got brave. It was a wonderfully warm day for Scotland in May!
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a view to the cloister
Here's a view of the cloister from the outside. Oh, and a cute little boy.
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view from the cloister walk
The cloister walk is wonderfully preserved. The kitchen fire places, the old washing trough...you could practically live here still!
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The chapter house
This is the old chapter house, where the canons and friars would meet.
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Chapter vaults
The Chapter house is wonderfully preserved, even bearing some of the original plaster on the vaults, and upstairs in the warming room, some of the painted verses are still legible on the walls.
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The Abbot's seat
Here is the inside of the chapter house. You can see the Abbot's seat and the benches on which the other friars sat for meetings.
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Luke in the hall...
This is the hall where guests were received, and general hospitality took place. Oh, and a cute little boy.
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The kitchen...
Here is the kitchen. There used to be a wall separating it from the refectory, but now, it's all in one big room. I'd love to cook in that big walk in fireplace!
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Refectory window
This is one of the windows in the refectory. Silent meals accompanied by readings.
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The pulpit
Here is the refectory pulpit from which a friar read the scripture during meal times.
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Luke on the way...
Luke went up the belfry with me...he's cute.
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a view up the belfry
Here is a view up the belfry, and you can see part of the rood screen that has been bricked up below.
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the way up the belfry
This is one of the best preserved medieval stairwells I've been in. And trust me, I've been in lots of them! You get a bit numb to them after so many, but this one has a special, medieval feel to it - almost like you should be carrying a torch.
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Columbans at rest.
On the way up the belfry, I caught a view of our St. Columba's friends at rest in the footprint of the old Abbey walls. At rest on the Sabbath...just as it should be!
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A view from the top
Can you see Natalie and Paul Michael?
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Edinburgh from Inchcolm
Here is the view back through the ruins, across the Forth back towards Edinburgh. You can see Arthur's Seat rising in the west, and if you go east, you can see the Castle Hill sticking up into the horizon. Beautiful, isn't it? Well, don't let the fact that this is the cloister's latrine window take away from the beauty. After all, it would be a nice view to have while you are taking a seat for a few minutes...am I right?
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a thin place...
It is a thin place, and sometimes, you are reminded of it in beautiful ways.
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On our way home...
On the way back from a great day. You will notice Paul Michael hasn't been in the pictures...he's been too busy exploring the island with his little friends from church. But here they are...all collected on the boat deck!
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Thanks for the day, Inchcolm!
It was a beautiful Pentecost...