The MacLeod Barn Abbey, built in 1976, was named after one of Jane Owen’s spiritual mentors, George MacLeod, founder of the Iona Community in Scotland.  Jane Owen wrote: “My favorite place in New Harmony is the Barn Abbey because of its simplicity and intimacy, especially during Benedictine retreats. It didn’t need an architect; our barn builders were natural architects. They knew the proportion and soundness of the structure.” The building is situated with a view of the Wabash River and Tobi Kahn’s Shalev:Angel of Compassion, a sculpture commissioned by Jane Owen in 1993.  The project was overseen by Robert Hatch, a restoration architect from Connecticut.

The building has a dormitory, dining room and commercial kitchen, and a living room with giant picture windows facing north to the river. It is available for retreats of private groups, corporate gatherings, for meeting facilities (capacity: 50) and/or overnight accommodations (capacity: 29) when not in use by RLBF Creative Partnerships. The building is ADA accessible and air-conditioned. Restrooms on the 1st floor are ADA accessible.

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