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The Church of St Michael and All Angels at Princetown on Dartmoor dates from 1810-1814 and is adjacent to Dartmoor Prison. This was completed in 1809 in order to hold French prisoners from the war with Napoleon. By 1812 it held some 8,000. They helped to construct the church along with some of the thousands of American prisoners-of-war from the 1812-1815 conflict with America (sometimes known as "the forgotten war") who were also held at Dartmoor after rioting on the prison ships at Plymouth. Some 218 American prisoners died here and there is a memorial to them. The church is Grade II*-listed.

Before 1910 all the prisoners who died at Dartmoor Prison were buried anonymously. The large cross in the churchyard was carved by prisoners and is a memorial to them.