The Great Thunderstorm

The Great Thunderstorm of Widecombe-in-the-Moor in Dartmoor, England took place on Sunday, 21 October 1638, when the church of St Pancras was apparently struck by ball lightning during a severe thunderstorm. An afternoon service was taking place at the time, and the building was packed with approximately 300 worshippers. Four of them were killed, around 60 injured, and the building severely damaged.