-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NaxILbrSTfPXAT4BkdNA8qykcZGJoSTmOselntX5V/U/tvVBv6On3nNeMncH4XYJ
 +O4mQgc9xmV4OQ7LjrugXg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000851170-97-000006.txt : 19971111
<SEC-HEADER>0000851170-97-000006.hdr.sgml : 19971111
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000851170-97-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	N-23C-1
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19971031
FILED AS OF DATE:		19971110
SROS:			NYSE

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MFS CHARTER INCOME TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000851170
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	 []
		IRS NUMBER:				043055815
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		N-23C-1
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	817-00192
		FILM NUMBER:		97711629

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 BOYLSTON ST
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179545214

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MFS PRINCIPAL INCOME TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890906
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>N-23C-1
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>MFS CHARTER INCOME TRUST
<TEXT>

<PAGE>
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.
Statement of registered  closed-end investment company with respect to purchases
of its own securities pursuant to Rule N-23(c)-1 during the last calendar month.

Report for the calendar month ending October 31, 1997

MFS Charter Income Trust
Date         Identification    Shares     Repurchase  NAV          Broker
             of Security       RepurchasedPrice
10/14/97     Shares of         30,000     $9.625      $10.70       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/15/97     Shares of         10,000     $9.6250     $10.70       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/16/97     Shares of         62,000     $9.6875     $10.70       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/16/97     Shares of         20,000     $9.6875     $10.70       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/21/97     Shares of         6,300      $9.6875     $10.69       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/21/97     Shares of         65,000     $9.7500     $10.69       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/23/97     Shares of         40,000     $9.1875     $10.70       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/24/97     Shares of         3,200      $9.6875     $10.70       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/29/97     Shares of         6,700      $9.6875     $10.65       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest
10/29/97     Shares of         25,000     $9.7500     $10.65       Merrill Lynch
             Beneficial
             Interest


Total Shares Repurchased:  268,200
Remarks: None.

MFS Charter Income Trust
by:  W. Thomas London
         W. Thomas London
         Treasurer



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
