The Iona Nunnery was established in 1203 AD as an Augustinian priory. The nunnery’s first prioress was Beatrix (also known as Beatrice or Bethag), the daughter of Somerled.
Her full title was ‘Bethag, daughter of Somhairle, son of GilleBrigde, Prioress of Icollumkill’.
The nunnery was founded by Ragnall, then Lord of the Isles, at the same time as he brought Benedictine monks to Iona. Ragnall, a son of Somerled, had his sister installed as prioress. The nuns wore the black habits of the Augustinian so the priory was known locally an eaglais dhubh – ‘the black church’.
It is thought that the Iona Psalter – a beautiful illuminated book – was created as a devotional text for Beatrix, Prioress of Iona. The Psalter may have been made by scribes in Oxford and demonstrates the prestige of the Lords of the Isles.
The Iona Psalter is now one of the treasures of the National Library of Scotland. The ruins of the Iona Nunnery, on the edge of the island’s port, Baile Mòr, are cared for by Historic Scotland.
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