It was described by the Building News and Engineering Journal in May of 1916 as, "a sample of the worst type of so-called Gothic churches built about 1830, and consisted of a brick and stucco building, with columns constructed partly in stone and partly in cast-iron, cement-moulded arches, with clerestory above, and a flat lath-and-plaster, imitation-groined roof.

[4] By the turn of the 20th century the church had fallen into disrepair and was poorly maintained, so John Rolle's nephew, Mark Rolle, commissioned a total re-modelling between 1905 and 1907, appointing Devon Architect George Halford Fellowes Prynne to carry out the works.

In February 1942 German aircraft dropped three bombs which exploded in the area of The Beacon.

[5] One bomb, at 1 Bicton Place to the north west of the church tragically killed five people.

A great deal of the glazing in the north and south of the nave, much of which had been executed by Percy Bacon & Brothers, was badly damaged.