Outraged by charging for the right to pray

The media is presently full of furore concerning claims of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

But what of the growing prevalence of anti-Christian attitudes in our society?

Recently our parish priest made a pilgrimage visit to Iona. That sacred isle was where Columba strove to sainthood and the place of his death.

It is the tiny Atlantic dot from whence dark ages Scotland was to be infused with the light of the Christian message.

‘It was my first visit,’ the Father had said, ‘and my last. I won’t be paying £7.50 again anytime soon to pray ... It’s a very special place, and a beautiful island, but if you are going to visit, you’ll need a small mortgage.’

I actually felt ashamed as a Christian at being taxed to visit and pray at the birthplace of Scottish Christianity.

The abbey and related sites are now under the control of Historic Environment Scotland. I have been visiting Iona on average twice a year for 30 years, and never once have I paid to pray where Christians have worshipped for 1,400 years. Nor do I, on principle, ever intend to.

The abbey now has souvenir shops, tearooms and ‘commercial opportunities’ for local artists, but it is definitely not a theme park. It is holy ground. The sand and stones are quite literally sodden with the blood of hundreds of Christian martyrs. And that matters, still, to Christians everywhere.

Historic Environment Scotland may have improved the site but it has surely soiled its sanctity in valuing its spiritual importance, and those who visit because of it, so little.

And there are in this other passive collaborators: those who handed on the keys unmindful, and seemingly uncaring, of the greedy secular threat.

People who had no thought of protecting the rights of the modern pilgrim to make communion with those who had gone before, and to pray in thanks for the example of Columcille and his spiritual children.

Historic Environment Scotland seems to be the very manifestation of ‘that man’ whom Samuel Johnson spoke of: ‘That man is little to be envied whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of Iona.’

No Christian should be taxed to pray at Iona Abbey. No one, least of all Christians, should endure this state-sanctioned barrier to faith. There should be a sign, clear and prominent, stating that all Christians are welcome to this holy place – free of charge. The toll has already been paid.

Gerard Sweeney, Stonefield Avenue, Glasgow.