Charles Church (businessman)

Charles JG Church (c. 1944 - 1 July 1989) was an English businessman who co-founded the British upmarket housebuilder Charles Church Developments and was the owner of a Spitfire.

Life
With his wife Susanna he founded the upmarket southern England housebuilder Charles Church Developments in 1965, building one property in Camberley, Surrey. He became its Chairman and the company expanded during the 1980s. In 1987 he floated it on the London Stock Exchange with his family retaining a majority of the shares at the time. However, disappointed with the firm's low stock market rating, he took it private just two years later in 1989.

Mr Church was a qualified pilot and purchased and restored Supermarine Spitfire aircraft. On 1 July 1989 he took one (G-MKVC) out on a flight and was killed when the aircraft crashed in Hartley Wintney, whilst trying to perform an emergency landing at Blackbushe Airport due to engine failure.

Mr Church was married to his wife Susanna Barbette Church and they have two daughters and one son.