Figurehead of the Caledonia

'They came in paths of storm; they found

this quiet home in Christian ground.'

Living on one of the most dangerous stretches of the British coastline Hawker was aware of the many shipwrecks in his parish. He was determined to rescue seamen and if he could not save them at least to give them Christian burial. He would even ply parishioners with drink to get their help in the often gruesome task of collecting remains from below the cliffs and bringing them to the little mortuary chapel by the lychgate where they could be prepared for burial.

One of the worst wrecks was that of the Scottish brig Caledonia on 7 September 1842 at Sharpnose Point. The ship's figurehead served as a grave marker for her Captain and crew who were drowned except for one seaman from Jersey who named his son after the vicar. The present figure is a replica of the original, which is now in the church, installed in 2008.

A cross was erected in the churchyard to commemorate the many sailors, mostly unidentified, who were buried in Morwenstow churchyard. They are also remembered in Hawker's poems including 'the Wreck of the Caledonia' of which the last lines are quoted above.