Coastal Parishes North Devon

Baptisms and Weddings by arrangement with the vicar.

Giles King-Smith Tel. 01271 870467

† First Steps. Weekly service in term time for pre-school children and their minders on a Tuesday 2.30 pm.

† Talk & Pray. Three parishes mobile house group, meeting in various homes. All welcome to learn more about our faith and to spend time in prayer. (see notices)

† Open Door. Drop-in coffee, tea and biscuits morning for locals and visitors. Wednesday mornings 10.00 - 12.00.

† Choir & Music Group. All are welcome to Music practice on a Thursday evening 7.30 pm.

Activities

History

St. Sabinus was 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 first vicar of St. Sabinus was the Rev.W.R. Wright who had been assistant curate of Mortehoe and in sole charge of Woolacombe Church from 1915. He was instituted in 1922 by Bishop Lord William Cecil of Exeter.

The Foundation Stone was laid in 1910 by Miss Rosalie Chichester 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.