Location : ../.. > Ward > Plymouth > St. Peter & the Waterfront Ward > Bretonside Viaduct (South side)

Main Transcription
Description : Lettering is raised & painted white. Coat of arms is painted.
Transcription : CHARLES CHURCH / PRIOR TO 1634 THERE WAS BUT ONE PARISH CHURCH IN PLYMOUTH, AT ANDREW'S BUT IN THAT YEAR THE TOWN PETITIONED KING CHARLES I FOR PERMISSION TO DIVIDE THE OLD PARISH INTO TWO AND TO BUILD A SECOND CHURCH. IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1640, HOWEVER, THAT LETTERS PATENT PERMITTING THE CHURCH TO BE BUILT RECEIVED THE ROYAL ASSENT. / WORK WAS COMMENCED IMMEDIATELY ON A SITE SOMEWHAT TO THE WEST OF THE OLD CARMELITE FRIARY, BUT BUILDING OPERATIONS WERE SUSPENDED DURING THE SEIGE OF PLYMOUTH 1642-1646 AND THE CHURCH WAS NOT COMPLETED UNTIL 1657. THE TOWER IS DATED 1657. THE CHURCH WAS DEDICATED IN 1665, THE FIRST SPIRE, MADE OF WOOD AND COVERED WITH LEAD, WAS BUILT IN 1707-1708. THIS SPIRE WAS TAKEN DOWN AND THE PRESENT STONE SPIRE ERECTED IN 1767. / THE BUILDING WAS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FINEST POST-REFORMATION GOTHIC CHURCHES IN THE KINGDOM. VARIOUS ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS, SUCH AS THE ADDITIONS OF THE PORCHES AND VESTRY, AND THE REMOVAL OF THE GALLERIES WERE CARRIED OUT IN THE 19TH CENTURY. / PRIOR TO THE SECOND WORLD WAR THE GRAVEYARD SURROUNDING THE CHURCH EXTENDED TO OVER AN ACRE, BUT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW EXETER STREET THE HUMAN REMAINS WERE REMOVED AND THE GRAVEYARD NO LONGER EXISTS. / ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 21ST/22ND 1941, THE CHURCH WAS WHOLLY GUTTED BY FIRE AS A RESULT OF A HEAVY AIR RAID, AND UNTIL 1957 THE RUINS REMAINED IN A DERELICT CONDITION. / THE CHURCH AUTHORITIES HAVING DECIDED THAT THE CHURCH WAS NOT TO BE REBUILT, THE PLYMOUTH CORPORATION PURCHASED THE SITE AND IN 1957, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MINISTRY OF WORKS, CARRIED OUT THE PRESERVATION WORKS. / THE CHURCH NOW FORMS A FITTING MEMORIAL TO THE CIVILIAN LOST THEIR LIVES DUETO ENEMY AIR ATTACKS ON THE CITY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

Additional Crests/Logos
Description : City of Plymouth Crest (Also faded line of text at bottom of plaque about how to get key for church gate from Bus Station. Gates are in fact already open so can assume this is out of date)

Reference Number : PLAQUE 047