Charles Church, Plymouth
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Charles Church is the second most ancient Parish Church in Plymouth, Devon the senior Church being St Andrew's Church, the Mother Church of Plymouth.
History
Charles Church was destroyed by enemy action during the Blitz of Plymouth on the nights of March 21st and 22nd 1941. The church was entirely burned out by incendiary bombs.
Charles Church was a Gothic styled church. It consisted of a west tower, with spire; nave with north and south aisles; north and south porches and chancel with north vestry. The tower was completed in 1708 and was originally surmounted by a wooden lead covered spire. This was later to be blown off in strong winds and replaced by the stone spire in 1766. It was said at the time that witches had knocked the wooded spire off with their broomsticks! The porches were added to the church in 1864. The south porch, located in the centre of the south aisle had a 17th century pointed outer doorway - this is still visible today in the ruins of the church. The fire caused by the blitz revealed a doorway in the north wall of the church.
Markings and Inscriptions
Following the destruction of the church, Mr GW Copeland, visited the church and recorded many of the historical monumental inscriptions and other ecclesiastical inscriptions from the church. He presented his findings to the Devonshire Association in 1949. Much of what follows is his work:
"Within a few weeks of the great raid that destroyed the building, the writer, in company with Mr Cyril Palmer, had the opportunity of paying more than one visit to the ruins, for the purpose of making photographic and other records. As may be expected, every scrap of woodwork, old and new, had been consumed; even the tower had been burned out; and the only part to escape destruction was the modern vestry on the north side of the chancel. All the bells, with one exception, and that was cracked, were broken; and not one mural monument escaped damage. The font was smashed to small fragments, which were collected later to form a small cairn."
The west tower of Charles Church, like St Andrews is built of limestone and granite. It is of three stages, divided by moulded strings and at each angle are double buttresses. The spire is octagonal and is surmounted by a ball and vane. The tower bears two date stones; 1657 on the north side and 1708 on the south side.
The East Window of the church was very elaborate and was of a remarkable design for a church built in the 17th Century. There was originally a doorway underneath the east window, this had been walled up in 1665. Its location having become apparent by the damage caused in the blitz.
The following transcriptions come from the work of Mr Copeland, shortly after the blitz on Plymouth:
CHARLES CHURCH PLYMOUTH - PEAL OF 8 BELLS - INSCRIPTIONS
(from a framed card which hung in the vestry)
| Bell | Inscription | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tenor | C & G Mears of London Founders 1856. Revd Henry Addington Greaves, Vicar. John Edwards Blewett, William Davey, Churchwardens | 23cwt, 3qrs, 12lbs |
| 7th | Similar inscription | 15cwt, 2qrs, 27lbs |
| 6th | C Mears of London fecit | approx 12cwt, 2qrs, 27lbs |
| 5th | Wm Chapman of London fecit 1782 | 11cwt, 2qrs, 27lbs |
| 4th | In wedlocks bands to join with hands your hearts unite, so shall our tuneful tongues combine to laud the nuptial rite | 9cwt |
| 3rd | Such wondrous power to music given. It elevates the soul to heaven | 8cwt |
| 2nd | If you have a judicious ear you'll own my voice is sweet and clear | 7cwt |
| Treble | Same as the Tenor | 6cwt, 1qrs, 23lbs |
When the bells lay broken or cracked after falling through the tower the following inscriptions were recorded:
Tenor RECAST BY GILLETT & JOHNSTONE, CROYDON, 1936. CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT LONDON 1856 (the remainder indecipherable) GREAVES VICAR CHURCHWARDENS C & G MEARS FOUNDERS LONDON 1856 REVD HY ADDINGTON GREAVES VICAR (with band or ornament) JNO EDWARDS BLEWETT, WM DAVEY - CHURCHWARDENS
5th WM CHAPMAN OF LONDON FECIT 1782
a broken fragment IF YOUTH ELEVATES THE SOUL __OWN MY VOICE SWEET AND CLEAR (with band of ornament)
The brass rectangular tablet recording the erection in the north aisle of a window in memory of Admiral Blake, though badly bent, stained and partly fused, bore the following decipherable inscription:
To the Glory of God and in Affectionate Remembrance of Admiral Robert Blake who first established the Naval Supremacy of Great Britain which has ever since been maintained. This window is placed by several English and American Family descendants for the purpose of recording his daring bravery, his spendid achievements and his pure noble blameless character, August 1889. The Memory of the Just is Blessed. Prov. 10. 7.
Many monuments in the ruins of Charles Church were destroyed beyond identification. The following are those that remained.
NORTH AISLE
- 1. Marble memorial, inscribed:
To the Memory of Mr William Rowe of this towne, Merchant, a great benefactor the the poor, who died ye 27 day of December 1690. Also Frances his wife, who died the 18 of December 1688.
- 2. Black and white marble tablet, inscribed:
To the Memory of John Nicolls Esq, who died the 16th of May 1790 aged 59 years and of Elizabeth Nicolls his widow who died the 12th day of June 1794 aged 60 years.The epitaph readsWhen sorrow weeps o'er virtue's sacred dust, Our tears become us and our grief is just. Such were the tears she shed who grateful pays, This last sad tribute of her love and praise, Who mourns the best of friends and parents kind, Where female softness met a manly mind. Mourns but not murmurs, sighs but not despairs, Feels as a mortal - as a Christian bears.
- 3. Small black and white marble tablet, inscribed:
To the Memory of Francis Hawker, Daughter of John and Mary Frances Hawker, who died the 16th of May 1818: Aged 24 years
- 4. Small rectangular black and white marble tablet, inscribed:
To the Memory of Mary Frances Winne, Daughter of Sir Edmund Keynton Williams and Catherine his Wife. Nov. 29 1820. A lower tablet records:Also her sisters, Caroline Winne, who died Feb 20th 1822 aged 5 months. Caroline Gwyneth Williams died May 10th 1828 aged 9 months. Maud Lewellyn Seys Williams died May 11th 1828 aged 2 years.
- 5. Rectangular black and white marble tablet, inscribed:
To the Memory of James Hawker Esq, A Post-Captain in His Majesty's Navy who died the 23rd March 1786 aged 58 years. And of Dorothea Hawker, his widow who died the 25th January 1816 agd 78 years.
- 6. Monument of black marble, inscription in Latin(translated):
To Moses George Vincent de Batens in Northill, died August 23, 1663 and Matthias, his Brother, died Feb 11, 1683.
- 7. White marble tablet, inscribed:
Here lie the bodies od Samuel Brent Esqr and Henrietta his Wife. Samuel died December 26th 1788 aged 77, Henrietta died February 21st 1784 aged 63. Gratefull affection for the best of Parents has caused this Monument to be erected to their Memory.
- 8. Damaged black and white marble tablet, inscribed:
To Vice-Admiral Richard Arthur, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Second Son of the Late John Arthur Esq of Plymouth. Died Oct. 26, 1854, aged 75. Also Elizabeth Fortescue, his Wife, and the Eldest Daughter of the Late Rev William Wells, Rector of East Allington, Devon. Died Aug. 16, 1853, aged 69. Also Catherine Elizabeth Caroline Henn Gennys, Daughter of the Above, and Wife of Commander J.N. Gennys, R.N. Died Apr. 30, 1861, aged 39. Also Richard William Arthur, Eldest Son, who died on board H.M.S. Iris off the Island of Mauritius, July 20 [no year], aged 19. The monument erected by Edward Fortescue and Oswald Cornish Arthur as a Tribute of Affection to their Beloved Parents, Sister and Brother.
WEST TOWER - NORTH SIDE
- 9. Rectangular stone tablet, inscribed:
William Spark of Fryery in Plymouth Esqr, died th e8th day of June in the year 1714. Being the last of his Name and Family in that place. Resurgam.
- 10. An upright rectangular stone tablet, inscribed:
Mrs Anna Harris Rains, Wife of CApt Stephen Rains of the Royal Navy. Died October 26, 1793 aged 61. Also Captain Rains. Died January 26, 1795. His remains are in the same vault as those of his wife.
SOUTH AISLE
- 11. White marble tablet, inscribed:
Andrew Tracey Esq. of Gascoyne Place, Master in the Royal Navy for nearly half a centurt. Died March 9th 1826, aged 81. Also Sarah Tracey, Relict of the above, Died June 9th 1838, aged 79.
- 12. Upright rectangular tablet, inscribed:
Elizabeth, Wife of Sir I.H. Seymour, Bart, Rector of Northchurch, Herts., Eldest Daughter of Robert Culme of Tothill, Rector of North Lewe and Parochial Curate of Plympton St Mary. Died March 6th 1841. Blessed are the pure in Heart for they shall see God. This tablet is erected by her husband.