With your brilliant help, the Iona Community reached its £300,000 fundraising target by the end of May. So, thank you! This means the next phase of work on the Abbey can start earlier than originally planned.

Back to the business of publishing, we have a new book this week - a collection of the hymns of much-missed Community member Leith Fisher, many of which were still unpublished at the time of his death.

Photo © David Coleman

Just published

Strange Majesty The hymns of Leith Fisher (Book and e-book) Douglas Galbraith (ed)

22 hymns (words & music), exploring themes not easily found in the standard repertoire, by Leith Fisher, who was a minister and a member of the Iona Community.

If ever a book was written about Leith Fisher’s life, it would need numerous chapters to cover his many gifts, interests and life experiences. Leith was a parish minister in the Church of Scotland in Glasgow and Falkirk, a member of the Iona Community, a broadcaster, contributing to BBC’s Thought for The Day; he served on presbytery committees, and was Convener of the General Assembly’s Panel on Worship. He was a gifted speaker (and also a gifted listener) and his pastoral abilities were legendary. In a tribute to him following his death in 2009 Leith was described as ‘one of the ablest ministers of his generation’.

For all his activity, Leith was also at his desk, sometimes late into the night, writing poems, articles, reports, life-changing letters, gospel commentaries, prayers - and hymns.

Seven of these were included in the fourth edition of the Church Hymnary(2005), and hymns like ‘For your generous providing’ and ‘Christ is our light’ are now established in the song of the church.

At his death Leith left a number of unpublished songs and hymns, the best of which editor Douglas Galbraith has had the privilege of bringing together here, with Leith’s pieces from CH4, in this collection.

Like most good hymns, these started life in a local parish or situation, and explore themes not easily found in the standard repertoire. They are set not only to known hymn tunes but to traditional Scottish melodies, including from the Hebridean tradition, which was a much-loved part of the author’s musical landscape.

It is hoped that these songs will add to the quality and breadth of the praise and prayer of the church.

Douglas Galbraith has edited several publications, including Leap, My Soul,hymns from Africa gathered by Tom Colvin; Worship in the Wide Red Land; The Church of Scotland Year Book; the church music magazine Different Voices, and was on the editorial committees of Common Ground and the Church Hymnary (CH4). He is a retired minister of the Church of Scotland and of the Uniting Church in Australia, and is a member of the Iona Community.

Buy the book and e-book together and pay only £2 plus VAT for the e-book (instead of £5.10 plus VAT). PDF version only, to allow for printout of the songs for ease of use. The discount will show up during checkout.

For more information and to see a sample

For the e-book version

Some recent publications

The Sound of Iona (CD and audio download) Poetry and music inspired by the landscape Kenneth Steven With music by Wendy Stewart

An Iona soundscape: a melding of wind and waves, the laughter of children, the sounds of birds, and some of Kenneth Steven’s poems, with harp music by Wendy Stewart. For those who know Iona as much as for those who have always wanted to find a way of reaching Columba’s holy isle.

Runtime 26 minutes

For the CD and to listen to a sample

For the audio download version and to listen to a sample

Known Unknowns 100 contemporary texts to common tunes (Book) John L Bell & Graham Maule

One hundred 21st-century hymn texts by John L Bell & Graham Maule that can be sung to familiar tunes.

Hymns, songs and psalm paraphrases by John Bell and Graham Maule - intentionally words only - with each item married to one or more tunes in any congregation's repertoire. A wide range of pastoral concerns is covered, including abuse, change, illness, dismay and healing. There is also a range of hymns on civic life, social justice and interfaith matters, as well as a healthy selection of songs on the life and ministry of Jesus and texts for the liturgical seasons.

For more information and to see a sample

For an International Situation (PDF download) Liturgies for healing 8 Rosemary Power & the Iona Prayer Circle

Digital download: A short liturgy addressing the wounds of our world and the dark places where people suffer and are oppressed, and asking for courage to challenge those who walk the corridors of power. With additional material on St Margaret of Scotland.

7 pages

For more information and to see a sample

Fundraising items

For more information …

Iona Calendar 2019 Photographs by Iain Sarjeant

The Highland Family Group of the Iona Community has produced this beautiful Iona calendar for 2019, in conjunction with photographer Iain Sarjeant. The calendar is 21cm x 21cm, and comes with a bonus picture of one of the more elusive places on Iona.

All profits from the sale of this calendar will go to the Iona Abbey Capital Appeal.

For more information

Iona Abbey Easter Worship (audio download) A live recording of the journey through Holy Week The Iona Community

A recording of worship in Iona Abbey from Holy Week and Easter Sunday from the 1990s. Pay only £1 ex VAT and kindly add a donation of your choice to the fund at checkout (just below the shopping cart).

Available as two audio downloads of approximately 60 MB each

For more information and list of contents

Iona of My Heart Daily readings (Book and e-book) Neil Paynter

Inspiring human stories from Iona – of encounter, challenge, exchange, connection, transformation. Stories about people and the power of the Spirit … Four months of daily readings. Royalties go to the Iona Community’s Iona Abbey Capital Appeal.

For more information and to see a sample

For the e-book version

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Wild Goose Publications is the publishing house of The Iona Community, a charity registered in Scotland.
Charity number: SC003794, Company no. SC096243.