Iona Purple Agate Catholic Rosary with Saint Martin’s Cross
Handmade in Paisley, Scotland, this five-decade Catholic rosary combines 8 mm dusky purple agate, antiqued brass, a Saint Columba centre medal and a Saint Martin’s Cross design.
- Circumference: approximately 70 cm
- Weight: approximately 95 g
- Cross: approximately 5 × 4 cm
The design and story
An old chapel at twilight: smoky plum stone, time-darkened brass and the long shadow of an Iona cross.
This substantial Catholic five-decade rosary brings together natural dusky purple agate, my original Saint Columba medal and a cross inspired by Saint Martin’s Cross on Iona. Each agate bead carries its own shifting colour—from soft lilac and heather-purple to mulberry and smoky grey—while the antiqued brass gives the rosary its quiet, timeworn Victorian character.
In AD 563, the Irish monk Colum Cille crossed the sea to Iona with twelve companions and founded a monastic community that became renowned for prayer, learning and Christian mission. Around two centuries later, Saint Martin’s Cross was raised on the island. It still stands beside Iona Abbey in its original position.
The medal and cross bring those stories together: a prayer in metal shaped by sea, stone, Scripture and memory, and rooted in the shared Christian inheritance of Ireland and Scotland.
Handmade and finished in small batches at my workbench in Paisley, Scotland, this rosary has a reassuring weight in the hands. The smooth 8mm agate beads and traditional five-decade arrangement make it a practical companion for regular prayer as well as a meaningful Scottish Catholic keepsake.
DETAILS
• Traditional Catholic five-decade rosary
• Natural dusky purple agate beads
• Bead size: approximately 8mm
• Antiqued-brass metalwork and chain
• Original Saint Columba of Iona medal
• Cross inspired by Saint Martin’s Cross on Iona
• Cross size: approximately 5cm × 4cm
• Rosary circumference: approximately 70cm
• Weight: approximately 95g
• Handmade in Paisley, Scotland
As agate is a natural stone, every bead has its own colour, markings and character. Your rosary will therefore be individually beautiful rather than completely uniform.
Packed without plastic
Plastic sucks and we are working toward 100% plastic free packaging.
Delivery
Postage in the UK is always FAST and FREE here, no matter how big or small your order. Postage everywhere else is affordable and tracked
Return & Refund policy
We want you to be happy with your order. Contact us within 30 days of delivery to arrange a return of an eligible item. Customers arrange and pay return postage for change-of-mind returns, in the UK and overseas.
Items personalised with your own name or message, or made to your individual specifications, cannot be returned simply because you change your mind. Choosing a standard design does not by itself make an item personalised. Discounted items have the same return rights as full-price items.
Your rights if an item is faulty, not as described or incorrectly supplied are unaffected. Please contact us so we can put it right; we cover reasonable return postage where the problem is our responsibility.
For return instructions and refund details, see our Returns and Refunds Policy.
Our Care Promise
We want your prayer beads to remain part of your life for years to come. If your Paisley Honey bracelet or chain rosary needs a repair, please get in touch. We cover the repair work and materials; you simply cover postage to and from our workshop.
USA Import Duties & Tariff Promise
We take care of any applicable US import duties or tariffs in advance, guaranteed. The price you see at checkout is the final price you pay.
Safety note
Rosaries are devotional items, not toys. They contain small parts and cord/chain elements and are not suitable for babies or very young children. Children should use them only with adult supervision and they should not be worn while sleeping.
Why customers trust Paisley Honey
Paisley Honey is a Scottish handmade devotional gift business based in Paisley, Scotland. As of July 2026, we have fulfilled more than 32,000 orders across PaisleyHoney.com, Etsy and eBay, with thousands of five-star reviews from customers in the UK, USA, Europe, Canada, Australia and beyond. We offer clear product descriptions, careful packaging, tracked delivery where available, customer support, and a fair returns policy for eligible non-personalised items.
Read more about why customers trust Paisley Honey.
EU & Ireland Customs Promise
For EU and Ireland orders, we use Royal Mail’s prepaid customs route where available, paying applicable customs and handling fees before dispatch. We aim to make delivery as smooth and surprise-free as possible.
Choosing a Handmade Rosary
Not sure what to look for when choosing a handmade Catholic rosary? We have written a practical guide to buying a handmade rosary online, including what materials to look for, how to choose a gift-ready rosary, and what to expect when ordering from Scotland to the USA and beyond. Paisley Honey rosaries are handmade rather than mass-produced, carefully packed, and shipped worldwide, including to customers across the United States.
Matching bracelet sizing
The optional matching bracelet is made to fit a 16 cm wrist. For free custom sizing, send your actual snug wrist circumference in cm or inches without adding extra allowance. I will allow for a comfortable fit when making it. Leave blank for the standard 16 cm wrist fit.
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