St. Sabinus’
Parish Church of Woolacombe
History
St. Sabinus is a canonised Italian Bishop. Miss Rosalie Chichester , wished that the church be dedicated to this saint after a holiday in Italy. There is a local story that St. Sabinus was an Irish Saint who was drowned in a storm in Woolacombe Bay, but there is no evidence or tradition to support this story. However Irish and Welsh Saints did land in this area of North Devon. Truth and fiction have been mingled in the North West Window.
The Foundation Stone was laid in 1910 by Miss Rosalie Cichester of Arlington Court who gave the land on which the church stands. All but the North Wall were consecrated in 1912. The architect was Mr. J.D. Caroe of London who considered that it was unfair for one generation to pay for the whole of the church building, so the North Wall was not completed until 1965. The stone used for the church came from within the parish and is Devonian red sandstone with traces of iron.
The Last Supper picture was painted by twelve students from Bideford Art School. The painting formerly hung in Belmont College Chapel, Barnstaple and we have looked after it since the school closed.