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In 1938 the Church of Scotland Minister George MacLeod founded the Iona Community, an "ecumenical" Christian community of men and women from different walks of life and different traditions in the Christian church that is committed to seeking new ways of living the gospel of Jesus Christ in today's world. This community is a leading force in the present "Celtic Christianity" revival (which unfortunately often has more to do with New Age spirituality and neo-Paganism than with ancient Orthodox Christianity among the Celts). The Community, which has care of the abbey, despite its ecumenical scope, is primarily affiliated with to the [[http://www.scotlandchurchofscotland.anglicanorg.orguk/ Scottish Episcopal Church] (part of the [[Anglican CommunionScotland]]), to whose General Assembly it reports annually.

The community is doctrinally liberal, strongly committed to working for social justice and produces much contemporary Celtic Christian material through its [http://ionabooks.com/ Wild Goose] arm. Such material, however, is at wide variance with Orthodox Christianity (e.g. in its frequent avoidance of the Trinitarian name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and its replacement with economic descriptions of divine action, such as 'Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier'). This said, the community is not tied up with any form of neo-pagan Celtic religion.  Iona Abbey is of particular historical and religious interest to pilgrims, and also of note is Iona Nunnery, a site of 13th century ruins and a colourful garden. Iona is popular among visitors for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is often described by Iona community members as a 'thin' place, at which God is less hidden than in the city. Its geographical features include the ''Bay at the Back of the Ocean'' and the ''Hill with His Back to Ireland'', said to be adjacent to the beach where St. Columba landed.