Gates To Charles Church, Plymouth UK
by Lesley Evered
Title
Gates To Charles Church, Plymouth UK
Artist
Lesley Evered
Medium
Photograph - Canon Powershot Sx610 Hs
Description
The original gates leading to the ruins of Charles Church in Plymouth, Devon, England UK. This church is now surrounded by roads so has become an island in the centre of the city of Pymouth. ...
This picture has sold:
Greetings Card, 28th February 2022....via FAA...
This picture has been featured in the following 7 groups:
Churches, 25th April 2020...
Images That Excite, 25th April 2020...
Anything Architecture Buildings And Bridges, 26th April 2020...
Praising God, 30th April 2020...
Best Photos From Europe, 19th May 2020....
Devon And Cornwall - UK, 28th January 2022...
Churches And Cemeteries, 5th September 2022...
Charles Church is the second most ancient parish church in Plymouth, Devon in England. The senior church is St Andrew's Church, the mother church of Plymouth....
The church was an important centre of spiritual life for the city for 300 years; boasted a number of important clergy; and was the mother of many existing churches. During a night in March 1941, the church was entirely burned out by incendiary bombs....
After the Battle of Britain phase of World War II, the air raids on Plymouth were rapidly intensified. During the night of 20th–21st March 1941 Charles Church was destroyed by fire. The congregation joined St Luke's for a month and then joined the daughter church St Matthias (as did the daughter church St Augustine for the same reason). Charles Church was encircled by the construction of a roundabout ten years later....
When peace came it was decided not to rebuild Charles. Plymouth had expanded and the population was in the new suburbs not the centre any more. It was decided to turn Charles into a living memorial of the 1,200 civilian deaths in the air raids. On Saturday 1958 at a service conducted by the vicar of the parish, J Allen James, the church was dedicated as a memorial. The commemorative plaque on the north wall reads:...
Charles Church...
Built 1641, Consecrated 1665, Completed 1708. Named in honour of King Charles I. Ruined by enemy action, 21 March 1941. Partially restored 1952, by the City, in co-operation with the Ministry of Work. The idea of restoration having been sponsored by the Old Plymouth society, as a memorial to those citizens of Plymouth who were killed in air-raids on the city in the 1939–45 War....
The church is occasionally used for services of remembrance or of special importance and the current Vicar of Charles with St Matthias is responsible for them. Modern use has been for the University carol concerts and a special service of reconciliation between Germany and Plymouth was held there in 2001 with the German ambassador present. (Wikipedia)...
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April 25th, 2020
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Comments (12)
Joy Watson
Love this Lesley
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks Joy....this church has been left as a memorial and the roads built around it so it now is on a traffic island with some dreadful modern architecture up behind it. It is still a beautiful building, even in ruins
Linda Howes
Great shot Lesley! l/f
Lesley Evered replied:
Many thanks Linda - I am pleased you like this one....and thanks for the like and favourite too.
Bonnie Mason
Wonderful composition, Lesley! LF
Lesley Evered replied:
Thank you Bonnie...such a nice comment....and thank you too for the like and favourite
Lesley Evered
CONGRATULATIONS, your picture has been FEATURED on the home page in the group DEVON AND CORNWALL - UK on 28th January 2022.
Ellanita Arlee
Excellent capture of this fabulous gate with modern building in the back. Great write Lesley! L/f
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks Ellanita...there has been a bit of controversy over Charles Cross.....some of the buildings surrounding this bombed out church are ultra modern with too many different architectural styles, which I think underlines the beauty of the old church. Extra special thanks for the like and favouriting.
Michaela Perryman
Great write up and photo l/f
Lesley Evered replied:
Thanks Mik, lovely comments and so much appreciated, and also thanks for the like and favouriting
Ira Shander
Very interesting history Lesley. I have seen wartime photographs of Britain's "other" cities. Bristol, Plymouth, and others. The destruction was horrendous. Yet, Adolph didn't get his way after all.
Lesley Evered replied:
Of course not Ira......one always hopes that good will win out over evil. The destruction of Plymouth was total....the whole city virtually flattened. Thanks very much for your kind thoughts on this one.
Elaine Teague
The gates survived. Shame about the building, which would’ve been a magnificent example of British architecture of that era.
Lesley Evered replied:
I am sure it would have been Elaine.....thanks so much for your caring comments
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