Island at St Ives, Cornwall England UK
[Roman Catholic/Anglican]
The Island is actually a penninsula with the medieval St Nicholas Chapel from the late 1400s at the top of the hill. At one time there was a lighthouse beacon here and this vantage point was used by the "Preventive Men" to watch out for smugglers. Smuggling of earthen pots, muscatel wine, and salt was widespread in Cornwall all the way back to the 16th century. Falling into disuse the chapel became storage for the War Office, who, unaware of history, partially razed it in 1904. An outcry saved the chapel and it was restored in 1911 and again in 1971. The chapel is open during the summer season; services are held every Thursday morning. Volunteers open the chapel and donations are given to charity.