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Year 6

Iona: a contemporary Christian pilgrimage

I can explain why Iona has become a modern centre of Christian pilgrimage.

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New
New
Year 6

Iona: a contemporary Christian pilgrimage

I can explain why Iona has become a modern centre of Christian pilgrimage.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The Iona community was reestablished in 1938 by the Rev George MacLeod.
  2. The Iona community is a global community working for peace and justice.
  3. Many people of different Christian worldviews visit Iona today as a modern pilgrimage site.
  4. We can find out about how different Christians experience pilgrimage differently by interviewing them.

Keywords

  • Community - a group of people working or living together with a common vision

  • Pilgrim - a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons

  • Service - the action of helping or doing work for someone

  • Global - relating to the whole world

Common misconception

Iona is only visited by pilgrims to see its historical sites.

People make a pilgrimage to Iona for many reasons, but many come to see the modern community that has been reestablished.


To help you plan your year 6 religious education lesson on: Iona: a contemporary Christian pilgrimage, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use examples of Iona liturgy for pupils to read or listen to. Search 'Iona community daily worship'.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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5 Questions

Q1.
A pilgrim is someone who goes on a ...
Correct Answer: pilgrimage, Pilgrimage
Q2.
Iona is an off the coast of Scotland.
Correct Answer: island, Island
Q3.
The monastery at Iona was founded by ...
Correct answer: Saint Columba
Saint Aidan
Saint Patrick
Saint Joseph
Q4.
For Celtic monks, a thin place was ...
a place that has thin vegetation
a place that is very remote
Correct answer: a place where the boundary between heaven and earth is thin
a place with an abbey
Q5.
The abbey at Iona was destroyed by ...
Celts
Romans
Correct answer: Vikings
Normans

5 Questions

Q1.
Choose three reasons why pilgrims might visit Iona today.
Correct answer: to see the historical sites of St Columba and the abbey
Correct answer: to connect with God in a thin place
to enjoy a holiday with friends
Correct answer: to spend time as part of a community
Q2.
The Reverend George MacLeod wanted Iona to be a community working for peace and social justice.
Correct Answer: global, Global
Q3.
A method to better understand the impact of Iona on pilgrims today is to ...
Correct answer: interview pilgrims
look at the historical sites
read accounts of St Columba
Q4.
On Iona, pilgrims are part of task teams which encourage ...
rivalry
prayer
Correct answer: service
making food
Q5.
Community is formed in which three ways on Iona?
Correct answer: sharing meals together
Correct answer: having worship and prayer in the morning and evening
Correct answer: being part of a task team
looking at historical sites