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Churches In the Forest of Dean
Details by the Forest of Dean History Society
Dean History Page
General Information about Churches in the
Forest
Churches described on this page
Further information about these and other churches can be
seen in The
Church Trail
The Forest of Dean area is not unusual in having a history
involving many religious denominations, amongst them Roman
Catholic, Baptists, Bible Christians, United Methodists, Congregationalists,
Primitive Methodists, Wesleyan Methodists and Independents.
A good number of chapels of those denominations still exist
today, but in this article we concentrate on the places of
worship of the Church of England.
There are some 42 churches in and around the Forest area.
Those travelling around the area will notice that the churches
located within the boundaries of the Royal Forest are not
particularly old. The royal demesne land was originally kept
as a hunting ground for the King, later it was used to produce
timber for iron production and for building naval ships. It
was not intended that common folk should live within the boundaries,
so the royal land was extra parochial. However encroachment
into the central Forest area led to houses and cottages being
built, often many miles from the nearest church. Ultimately
in the 19th century several churches were built within the
boundaries of the Royal forest to serve the new communities
and settlements.
Whilst there may not be churches of any great antiquity
within the boundaries of the Royal Forest, there are however
a number of considerably older churches in the surrounding
areas. In the pages below we present a selection of brief
descriptions of the newer churches of the Royal Forest, and
also provide similar descriptions of the more notable older
churches located in the surrounding area.
Christ Church - Berry Hill
The church you see today was built in 1815, when the original
school chapel built in 1812 was incorporated into the new
church as the north aisle. Later additions were the west tower
( 1819), and the chancel (1885). Restoration took place in
1913 when a vestry was added, and the gallery removed. A chancel
screen was also erected at this time, but was subsequently
removed in 1966.
Saint John the Evangelist - Cinderford
This church is sited on Cinderford Tump, north east of Cinderford
Bridge. The church was designed by Blore in a 13th century
style to include a nave, chancel with transepts, and small
tower and spire. It was consecrated in 1844.
Cinderford town pages
Saint Stephen - Cinderford
The rapid growth of Cinderford in the late 19th century
led to the building of a second church, this time near the
centre of the town. The church was designed by Lingen Barker
in an early 14th century style and was consecrated in 1890.
It features an aisled nave and chancel with north vestry and
organ chamber.
Cinderford town pages
Holy Trinity - Harrow Hill, Near Drybrook
This church is known locally as the Forest church. It was
built in 1817 under the personal supervision of Henry Birkin,
it's first minister. It is built of roughly coursed stone,
with ashlar dressings and features a wide nave, short chancel
and north and south porches. One of the three original galleries
now remains. The church unusually has eight tubular bells
installed as a memorial to the dead of World War I.
Drybrook village page
St Paul - Parkend
This is one of the more unusual churches built in the 1800's.
It is beautifully situated on the edge of Parkend in a forest
clearing. The shape provides the point of interest in being
octagonal and cruciform, with the arms formed by the sanctuary,
north and west transepts and west tower. It was built in 1822
by Henry Poole, a local priest, who raised most of the money
for building it through public subscription.
Parkend village page
All Saints - Viney Hill
This church was designed by Ewan Christian in a late 13th
century style and is built in local red sandstone. The building
was paid for by Mary Bathurst and Reverend W.H. Bathurst in
memory of Charles Bathurst, who died in 1863. The church was
consecrated in 1867. It has an apsidal chancel, and a deep
roof that extends over both nave and aisles, but with a break
in the slope over the south aisle. It also feature a south
porch and non- projecting transept.
All Saints - Newland
This church is known locally as the Cathedral of the Forest
because of it's proportions, history and setting, and it is
well worth a detour for visitors to the Dean. The church was
first established by Robert de Wakering (1215-1237). All the
early builders of the church were important men in the affairs
of the State, and this may help to explain the unusual size
of the church. Indeed in 1305 Edward I added a small chapel
(adjoining the south porch) and founded the chantry of King
Edwards Service. The church comprises a west tower, nave with
five arches, adjoining very large north and south aisles,
south porch and chapels. There are many interesting monuments
within the church including an effigy of Jenkin Wyrall, Forester
of Fee (d. 1457), which shows interesting details of hunting
costumes of that period. Even more evocative is the Miners
Brass' just one foot high, which depicts a helmet, crest and
figure of a mediaeval miner of the Forest of Dean with a hod
and pick in his hand and candlestick in his mouth.
Newland village page
St Michael - Abenhall
This is a small church, but included in this selection because
it is the church where the Freeminers of the Forest of Dean
hold services. Originally built as a chapel of ease, the church
was expanded in the 14th century to include nave, south aisle
and tower. The arms of the Freeminers can be seen on the south
side of the tower and on the 18th century font. Abenhall church
is 1.5 km south of Mitcheldean and is set in beautiful surroundings
on the edge of the Forest.
St John the Baptist - Ruardean
The church of St John the Baptist is to be found at one
of the highest parts of the Forest of Dean. Spectacular views
are afforded from the church, which dates from 1110. The church
comprises nave, chancel, south aisle and tower. The porch
has a 13th century outer door leading to the inner door which
is Norman in origin. Above the inner door is a remarkably
preserved carved tympanum dating from around 1140, showing
St George slaying the dragon.
Ruardean village page
St Mary - English Bicknor
This church is set within the outer courtyard of a Norman
Motte and Bailey. The exterior walls, renewed in Victorian
times, offer no clue to the Norman building work within. Only
the exterior stonework of the 13th century west tower is original.
Inside the church, the four bay north arcade and five bay
south arcade are both Norman, but interestingly have different
decoration around the capitals. The church may have had a
central tower before the current west tower was built.
English Bicknor village
page
St Mary - Lydney
The large tower and steepling spire of St Marys church are
visible for a good distance from the town of Lydney. This
large church is mostly Early English, with the tower, aisled
nave and chancel dating from the 13th century. The east window
and that in the south aisle contain Early English stained
glass, whilst in contrast, in the north aisle is a modern
window showing the Franz Joseph glacier in New Zealand. This
was given in 1941 by Lord Bledisloe to commemorate his tour
of duty as Governor of New Zealand.
Lydney town page
St Michael - Mitcheldean
The church of St Michael is located in the old market town
of Mitcheldean. The church is remarkable for being very wide,
consisting of nave, north aisle, outer north aisle and south
aisle and tower which were built variously between the 13th
and 15th century. The chancel and vestry were remodelled in
the 19th century. The large tower and steeple conspire to
dominate the town. Inside the church, above the sanctuary
screen there is a 15th century painting depicting the Last
Judgement'. There is also an enormous modern (1911) reredos
with life sized white marble figures illustrating the text
'Come unto me'.
Mitcheldean village page
Further information about these and other churches can be
seen in The
Church Trail
Church
records for genealogists
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