The Monks of St. Columba

The monks of Saint Columba, an odd collection of Church of Scotland Presbyterians bound by the Rule of St. Benedict, consort, and battle with cabbage-hungry seals (known as selkies), officious royal personages, rapacious mineral companies, mysterious strangers, and each other. They are all denizens of the sacred and profane imagination of the Reverend Israel James Douglas Nelson. As far as Israel knows, there is no Church of Scotland monastic community that follows the Rule of St. Benedict. He very much doubts that there is any such place on North Uist, an island in the Hebrides that does indeed exist. Readers of this book may want to travel to the Hebrides anyway, just on the chance of catching a glimpse of the idiosyncratic Abbey and a monk chasing the selkies out of his garden, shouting in colorful Gaelic.

St. Columba Abbey exists only in the imagination its author, the Reverend Israel James Douglas Nelson. The Abbey is populated by eccentric monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict, squabble with one another, and are members of the Church of Scotland. These stories tell how they live out their monastic lives on the island of North Uist, pestered by cabbage-loving seals and idiosyncratic guests, including the Queen herself. As far as Israel Nelson knows, there is no Church of Scotland monastic community that follows the Rule of St. Benedict. He doubts if there is any such place on North Uist, an island in the Hebrides that does exist. He chose to locate his imaginary community on North Uist because few people have ever heard of it, especially Americans. He is somewhat familiar with the Church of Scotland, the mother church of the Presbyterian Church (USA), of which he has been Teaching Elder member for more than 50 years. He's also familiar with the Rule of St. Benedict, as an occasional guest in Cistercian houses where that rule dominates. So, come along and meet the monks who share a common life following the Benedictine rule and honoring the founder of the Christian faith in Scotland, St. Columba of Iona.

Israel Nelson has lived in Alaska's Mat-Su Valley since 2000. He is possessed by advanced degrees in Divinity and Social work, and currently volunteers himself to Habitat for Humanity and Family Promise, a housing program for homeless children and their parents. As a member of the Iona Community, Church of Scotland, he has actual monk friends on a remote rocky coastline.