Charles Frederic Watkins (1794–1873) was an Anglican clergyman, best known for his work in restoring the parish church of Brixworth, Northamptonshire, and promoting the study of its origins.
He was educated at Christ's Hospital and in 1810 joined the frigate "Hotspur" as a midshipman, continuing to serve in the Navy until the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
Watkins was the clergyman encountered by Robert George Gammage when he visited Brixworth in June 1839 in order to address a Chartist meeting.
"[5] The 1851 census records Watkins living at Brixworth vicarage with his wife Elizabeth, eight daughters and two sons, all the children then being taught at home.
He took great interest in the historical development of the church building at Brixworth, both by carrying out excavations of submerged parts of the oldest elements and by initiating changes that aimed to restore the structure to be closer to what he believed was its original form.
Watkins composed six special hymns for the occasion and included their words along with a detailed account of the day in his book “The Basilica or Palatial Hall of Justice and Sacred Temple etc.”.