Lundy, Isle of Avalon

Chapel of St. Elen, Abbotsham

Abbotsham church was originally sited on the summit of the bold ridge that runs S. of Westward Ho!, about 1 m. N. of its present site, to which it was removed at an unknown date. 

Lundy is in full view from the old site  

In full view of Lundy, this chapel marks a significant lunar alignment from the island

"There are only three known dedications

 to St. Helen in Devon, 

all in North Devon, 

close to the sea, 

and within sight of each other: 

the chapel on Lundy, 

the parish church of Abbotsham, 

and the ancient chapel (now ruined) on the high ground just W. of Croyde village. 

"The original church was dedicated, not to St. Helen or Helena the Empress (whose day was 18 August), but to St. Elen, whose day was 25 August. So said the Tavistock Calendar, and as Tavistock Abbey possessed Abbotsham from the tenth century we may regard this as a sound source.

Of the chapel at Croyde, which again is sited so as to have Lundy in view, we know nothing except that it was dedicated to St. Helen. But in view of the other two dedications, and its significant site above a good beach for landing, we can hardly doubt that it is the third of the small group of chapels founded in the 6th century."  Hoskins