Charles Church

Building commenced immediately in 1641 but was halted the following by the English Civil War as men were needed for the defence of the town. The church remained in that state until 1645 when the town was relieved; staunchly Protestant, Plymouth sided with Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians; it held out against the King's men throughout the Civil War, almost alone in a Royalist West Country. There is evidence that the incomplete church was used for stabling horses during the siege. However, it appears that some parts were used for worship. A wedding is recorded on 10 May 1644, baptisms from January 1645 and burials from 4 August 1646 (some pages have been lost so there may have been…

The church was founded around 1640, but not completed for many years. It is a Gothic style church, consisting of a west tower, with spire, a nave with north and south aisles, north and south porches, and a chancel with vestry. The tower was completed in 1708, and the original wooden/lead covered spire was replaced by a stone spire in 1766. During the nights of 21 and 22 March 1941, the church was entirely burned out by incendiary bombs during the Plymouth Blitz. When World War II ended it was decided not to rebuild the church. In 1958, at a service conducted by the vicar of the parish, J Allen James, the church was dedicated as a memorial for the 1,200 civilian deaths in air raids. There…