The Friends of Bishop’s House raise money to support the retreat centre. Over the years many have been helped and funds raised by the Friends have provided many items and improvements to the house.
Many of the Friends also make a personal commitment to pray regularly for the house – those who visit and those who live and work there.
The Friends help and support Bishop’s House in many other ways, as well. Many fundraise for the House in their own time as well as on Iona during Friends Week. And some help around the House during Work Week every year, with basic gardening, painting, and cleaning tasks.
During Friends Week, we hold a coffee morning for islanders and visitors at Bishop’s House. This is a popular annual event on the island and includes a bake sale, raffle, bric-a-brac, crafts, and of course coffee, tea, and hospitality. If you can’t make it to Friends Week but would like to donate items toward the coffee morning, they can be posted to Bishop’s House for arrival during Friends Week (yearly dates posted on the News & Events page).
Friends’ Legacy
The list of items the Friends of Bishop’s House has contributed the House is far too long to itemise here, but to name just a few…
- custom designed, etched Chapel windows by Anita Pate
- Bibles for the Chapel
- fresh, bright bedding
- comfortable couches in the guest lounge
- outdoor decking off the guest lounge
- landscape photographs in each guest bedroom
- new floor in the guest dining room
- dining chairs
- helped numerous people enjoy time at Bishop’s House with the assistance of our bursary program
- and so, so much more