Belfry Inne and Bistro, Sandwich, Cape Cod
Old Catholic Church and Rectory Reimagined as Bed-and-Breakfast
If you’ve ever dreamed of consummating your nuptials under the watchful eye of the Archangel Gabriel, or simply fantasized about “doing it” in a church, your prayers have been answered in the form of the Abbey at the Belfry Inne.
The Abbey
Built in the late 1800s, the Abbey functioned for a time as the Catholic church of Sandwich, Cape Cod.
More than a decade ago, innkeeper Chris Wilson refurbished the property as a six-room bed-and-breakfast and bistro, keeping many of the original elements such as the stained-glass windows and the pews.
The Rooms at the Abbey
The rooms are named after the six working days of the week (a door marked “Sunday” leads, appropriately for the staff, outside). The inn’s rooms offer cathedral ceilings, skylights, balconies, gas fireplaces and giant, canopied whirlpool bathtubs, complete with bath salts specially made for the inn.
Each room has individually patterned, textured and richly colored wallpaper; some have Victorian armoires or sofas. Tuesday, which features the original intricate stained glass from the church’s façade, is the most spectacular room, with Saturday, a favorite with brides, running a close second.
The Breakfast Part of Bed-and-Breakfast at the Belfry Inne
Come downstairs to the bistro in the mornings, and you can sit by the fireplace as you’re treated to the sight of the original engravings along the wall reminding you of “sin,” “redemption,” “lust,” and other complements to the continental buffet breakfast.
The Painted Lady Cafe, another of the property’s dining options, offers lunch and dinner in a brightly colored setting.
Other Onsite Accommodations: Painted Lady, Village House
The Belfry Inne also comprises two other nearby properties: the Painted Lady, an eight-room Victorian that once operated as the Abbey’s rectory and was formerly known as the Drew House, and the Village House, an adjacent six-room 1830s bed and breakfast.
The property also has a landmark Society of Friends house of worship called the Meetinghouse.
Cape Cod's Oldest Standing Building
Built in 1638, the Meetinghouse is the oldest standing structure in the oldest town on Cape Cod. Wilson has renovated the property, which he opened a few years ago, with an eye to maintaining its historic character.
A few years ago, Wilson was also considering offering the Meetinghouse as another inn on the property, but to date he seems to have either put those plans on hold or scrapped them altogether.
Should you catch Wilson at breakfast in an expansive mood, ask him to recount the meetinghouse’s mysterious Case of the Missing Dolls.
Belfry Inne and Bistro, 8 Jarves St., Sandwich, Cape Cod, Mass.; 508-888-8550, $165-$245 per night including continental breakfast.
