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In the graveyard alongside the abbey of St
Orans, contains the burials of the early Kings of Scotland, the Lords of the
Isles. The earliest surviving building of St Orans Chapel was built by them
for their own burials. Iona has an important place in the history of
Christianity in Britain. It began when St Columba founded Iona's first abbey
soon after his arrival from Ireland in 563. The area enclosed for his monks
was later chosen by Reginald, son of Somerled, the Lord of the Isles to
build a Benedictine Abbey here in about 1200. The abbey buildings were
much altered and repaired until the Reformation and they received a new
lease of life in the present century when the abbey church and buildings
were repaired and partly reconstructed to welcome a new Christian Community
and visitors of many faiths to this remarkable island. |
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