Inchcolm Abbey
13. Jul, 2010 
2 Comments
Here is sanctuary
Gulls are singing praise to God
Stone and wood
Touch earth and sky with grace
The river laps the sand with ease
Ancient sounds of monks are heard in the breeze
Singing songs and chants of praise
Holy Holy is the Lord
Colm’s island speaks of God
Hermit prayers can still be heard
Saints and sinners voices cry
Amidst the ruins of our time
Forgive our sins, redeem our lives
We cry for sanctuary
Prayer never ceases it cannot die
It descends as peace to guard the soul
It fills the air around this ancient holy island
And holy men still prevail
Prayer lives on to be fulfilled
Colm’s voice still calls on God
To calm the tumult of the soul
Look around this holy place
Remove the guns and signs of war
Restore this to a place of prayer
Where troubled souls retreat
Without fear
To be at one with God.
This amazing island just a few miles down the river from where we live in Bo’ness. Some call it the iona of the East . Finally after many years of always meaning to go and visit I made the trip yesterday.
The Abbey is hidden away on a small island on the Firth of Forth a few miles down river from the famous Forth Rail Bridge. You have to take a sail from South Queensferry. This island has had holy men shelter and pray on it for centuries. The Abbey was built by David 1 of Scotland to give thanks to God for the island and the holy men who gave sanctuary to his brother who once sheltered from a raging storm in 1123. Centuries later it was used as a battlement in the Forth as part of the war efforts at the turn of the twentieth century. These instalations are still to be seen around the island. So here is a question. Could this be a venue for our U2 acoustic eucharist?
I visited Inchcolm some 20 years ago. Most remarkable place, just imagine being island-bound during bad weather! Humbling even in good weather, letting your thoughts wander. If only I had been able to spend more time there. It should make an excellent venue, only everybody would have to go there by boat and not get seasick (does not take much with some)!
If you do it, make it into a DVD (possibly subtitled to help foreigners) and put it up for sale on the Sanctus Media web shop!
I’ve never heard of the island before, and I’m an east coast laddy!! Shocking I know. Sounds like a great place to pray and meditate. The prospect of a concert dedicated to worship sounds fantastic!