Ilfracombe, Devonshire England UK
[Roman Catholic]
The chapel, dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, is believed to date to about 1320. Its light has guided ships since 1522, giving Lantern Hill its name. A larger lantern was built in 1650. In the middle ages the sturdy chapel sheltered women and children during pirate raids and may have lodged St Nectan pilgrims going to Hartland. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1540, it became a dwelling, housing the lighthouse keeper's family, later used as a reading room, laundry, and for band practice. Restored at the end of the 19th century, it is now in the care of the Ilfracombe Urban District Council, operated by the Rotary Club. The chapel was struck by lightning in 2013. Photo