BIO:Columba

521-597

Irish missionary. Columba was born in Donegal, Ireland. Very 
little is known about his early life and education. He stud-
ied at Celtic schools, and in 551 was ordained a priest. 
Later, in 563, at the age of 42, he and 12 of his followers 
sailed to Scotland, where he established a center of mission-
ary activity at Iona. His labors resulted in reaching the en-
tire island with Christianity.

        His ministry contrasted sharply with that of 
Augustine, who later came to Britain, in that Augustine rep-
resented the Roman church, while Columba was a product of the 
Celtic church of Britain. Revered by both Scotland and Ire-
land as a great spiritual benefactor and saint, he was found 
dead beside the altar of a local church where he had been en-
gaged in midnight prayer.

        Many historians consider his work and ministry of 
promoting Christianity in the British Isles far greater than 
that of the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

