
St Michael and All Angels Church Princetown
N 50° 32.773 W 003° 59.743
30U E 429452 N 5599837
Quick Description: A large granite church In Princetown, Dartmoor.
Location: United Kingdom
Date Posted: 8/30/2007 11:24:30 AM
Waymark Code: WM23RV
Views: 47
Long Description:Princetown Church Dartmoor is a unique monument to the French and
American Prisoners of War who built the church from Dartmoor
Granite in 1813. The French prisoners build the church, and then
250 American Prisoners arrived and finished the furnishings in
readiness for its first service on 2nd January 1814.
On the 10th February 1816 the last prisoners left Dartmoor, the
church was then closed and locked. (Nearly 1,500 French prisoners
and 218 Americans died while incarcerated in Dartmoor War Prison
and were buried in a file beyond the prison walls.)
In 1831 the villagers re opened the church and it was
re-consecrated for use. Many years later in 1994 St Michael and All
Angels Church once again closed for worship and offered for sale.
No purchaser was found so the church was taken over by the Church
of England’s Historic Buildings Trust and work commenced to restore
the steeple and make the building waterproof.
Work on the outside of the building has been completed showing off
some beautiful stonework.
The church is still closed but at least the building is preserved
for future generations.