The Abbey was built in 1901 and is the third Catholic Church in Sandwich. The first was located a block down on Jarves Street, now MacDonald’s Gift Emporium. The second was located on Church Street near the glass factory. In the late 1800’s, the Abbey was badly damaged in a storm and the property location on Jarves Street was purchased. On July 5, 1901 the new Corpus Christi church was consecrated.

The interior of the Abbey was transformed from an open space with an aisle leading to an altar, with sixteen sets of pews on each side, to an intimate dining space. A second floor was added providing space for four guestrooms and additions on the two rear roofs provided two additional rooms. The Abbey is an architectural and aesthetic tour de force. This grand space has been segregated ingeniously and imaginatively into dining and lodging spaces. Guests and dining patrons enter into a soaring space, warmly lit with retrofitted ecclesiastical lighting, handsomely accented by ground level amber stained glass windows. The grand fireplace, lit on cooler evenings, is the focal point of the main dining room.

The Abbey guestrooms feature king beds with spa tubs, and fireplaces. The Wednesday room, in particular, features a rainfall shower with enclosed spa therapy unit called “The Verdana” that creates a space of relaxation and respite. All rooms have decks that were cut into the existing roof to create privacy. The color palettes of each room reflect the biblical story of creation and are named for the six days of the week:  Monday through Saturday. The Sunday door leads to the rear parking lot as biblical lore indicates God “rested” on that day.

Below, Bistro tables are set with crisp white linen and the seating is of black leather and large upholstered chairs. Wilson salvaged nearly every piece of architectural remnants and put them to their highest and best uses. The Bistro bar’s wine ‘cellar’ is the one-time confessional. Former pews have many new functions; some became part of the bar construction, others became wall paneling, while the others are headboards for the guest beds.

The oak paneling was saved and repositioned. For instance, the choir loft railing was moved to the walkway leading from the front to the rear of the building. The original organ was donated to the Episcopal Church in New Londonderry, New Hampshire. The stain glass window depicting Jesus, located above the sanctuary was gifted to the Corpus Christi church in East Sandwich. The remaining stained glass windows are in their original placement with the exception of Michael the Archangel, now in the Saturday room, and Gabriel, now in the Friday room.