Churches in Gloucestershire & The Cotswolds
Gloucestershire has many churches and religious buildings, including priories, throughout the county, including in Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean & Gloucester. These include buildings ranging from Gloucester Cathedral to many small rural village churches.
Visit Gloucestershire Churches
Some notable, beautiful and famous churches for architectural or historical reasons.
St Nicholas Church, Gloucester
On Lower Westgate Street is the historic St Nicholas Church, often overlooked by visitors because of the cathedral. This church has a fascinating history. The tour guides here are top-notch and very knowledgeable. The church’s history began in the 12th century, and it was damaged during the English Civil War, during the siege of Gloucester.
The church has many outstanding artefacts, including a replica 14th-century sanctuary knocker (the original is in the museum). People who used to knock to claim sanctuary in the church used this. One feature visible from the outside is the large bracket clock fixed to the south side of the tower in 1716. The design is rather unique, with the numbers on the clock’s face. It uses IIII rather than IV to denote 4 o’clock.
St Nicholas in Hardwicke
A village church on one of my favourite walks and in the middle of the local countryside. The buildings date back to Norman times and are very well preserved. About Hardwicke Church…
St Michael & All Saints, Eastington
St Michael & All Saints Church in the village of Eastington is on the banks of the River Frome. Set in stunning scenery, this church is a magnificent spot to take a break while walking the River Frome.
St Bartholomew’s Churchdown
At the top of Churchdown Hill, this small church is pretty stunning and a great destination for a hill walk. The building dates back to Norman times and has a rich history.
St Paul’s Church in Cheltenham.
St Paul’s Church was built as the first ‘free’ church in Cheltenham; it was founded in 1831. Historically, Cheltenham’s vicar at the time was alarmed to see the rich of the town were coming to his church, and yet their servants had nowhere to worship. The vicar set about building a church for the poor, a church where you didn’t have to pay to worship God.
St Mary’s Cheltenham
Cheltenham Minster, also known as St Mary’s Church, is located just off the high street. The Minster is the only surviving medieval building in Cheltenham; it has been in continuous use for 850 years, unless it’s closed for repairs.
They believe it to have replaced a Saxon church erected on this site in the 8th century. In the Domesday Book, the church and its land (the rectory) were recorded as belonging to William the Conqueror’s chancellor, Regenbald, also known as Reinbald, who then bequeathed it to Cirencester Abbey.
St Peter’s Church in Gloucester
On London Road, Gloucester, St Peter’s is a Roman Catholic Church. St Peter’s was built between 1860 and 1868. Gilbert Blount designed it, and it was consecrated in 1868. The architecture is in the Gothic Revival style and features a striking spire. The site is now a Grade II* listed building.
Mariners Church, Gloucester
Sailors from many nations frequented the Mariners’ Church in Gloucester Docks, which opened in 1849. In its first 5 years, it distributed 2,000 copies of the Bible.
They built the Mariners Church mainly for dockyard workers and crews of boats moored nearby. It has always welcomed all Gloucester residents. Today, it still draws people from far and wide to visit while exploring the historic docks.
St Mary de Crypt, Gloucester
The St Mary de Crypt Church is in the city centre on Southgate Street, Gloucester, next to the Greyfriars Priory Ruins. St Mary de Crypt is an Anglican church that has a history dating back to 1140. In the 12th century, they knew it as The Church of the Blessed Mary within Southgate. They restored the church in 2019; before that, it had sadly fallen into disrepair.
They founded the original Crypt School in 1539; the original schoolroom next to the church still exists. The church has a fascinating history, including being used to store and make ammunition in the First English Civil War.
The church is architecturally interesting; it was built in the 12th century. The building currently includes several surviving Norman features. One of the most significant is the well-preserved carved tympanum. You can find it over the Southgate Street Entrance, where it depicts the Agnus Dei. The Agnus Dei symbolises Christ’s resurrection and comes from the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Additions and renovations over the centuries have expanded the church. However, it still has some of its original features.
The church often has guides to show larger groups around. Visitors can book tours on the church’s website.
When visiting the church, notice the organ. The organ is a prominent feature towards the end of the aisle. The original schoolroom of Crypt School is now a cafe where you can enjoy a nice snack accompanied by a hot or cold drink.
Towards the rear of the church is a historic graveyard with many old gravestones to peruse. This is next to Cafe Rene and near the Greyfriars Ruins. This is one of many interesting churches in Gloucester that you can visit.
St Margaret’s Chapel, Gloucester
On London Road towards Hillfield Park in the city, St Margaret’s is a small chapel. The building dates back to 1193. Originally it belonged to the Leper Hospital of St Margaret and St Sepulchre.
Church of St John the Baptist in Cirencester
St John the Baptist church in the marketplace is the largest parish church in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. The church dates back to the 11th century and, as a result, includes many later architectural styles. They built St John the Baptist church from local Cotswold stone, and it has medieval stained glass windows. The church is a Grade I listed building and, as a result, is a great place to have a mooch around.
St Laurence Church, Stroud
St Laurence Church is in the Shambles, Stroud. The site has been a place of worship for over 700 years. In 1866, the Victorians felt the existing building could no longer meet the town’s growing needs and rebuilt the church, except for the 14th-century tower and spire, which are original structures. The grounds are a nice place to reflect or enjoy a quiet alfresco lunch.
St Mary’s Church, Painswick, in The Cotswolds
In the centre of Painswick in the Cotswolds is St Mary’s Church, a fantastic place to visit, especially inside and through the churchyard. Their churchyard is rather special and is home to 99 yew trees. The Cotswold Church is lovely to visit inside, with its decor and stained glass windows. On my last visit, they also had a nativity for Christmas.
Quedgeley Church – St James
St James Church is a Church of England church in School Lane, Quedgeley. The church has been a Grade II* listed building since 1955. People have used the site of the current church for religious reasons since before 1095. They originally built the church in 1210, with additions to the chancel in the 13th century and further additions. However, they have rebuilt parts of the building over the centuries, including the nave and chancel in 1857.
They built the building using ashlar with a Cotswold stone roof. The opening between the nave and north aisle has three bays in the traditional 13th-century style. The current site is a nice place to sit, reflect, and admire the building from many angles.
The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin in Tewkesbury
The centrepiece of Tewkesbury is its famous abbey, the Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin. Tewkesbury Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery that is great to visit and to attend events, like food fairs, on its grounds.
They consider the abbey one of the best examples of Norman architecture in the country. It has Europe’s largest Romanesque crossing tower. The church is home to three organs, including the Milton Organ, which dates back to the 17th century.
Holy Trinity Church Drybrook
At the northern gateway to the Forest of Dean, Holy Trinity, also known as Forest Church, is in the village of Drybrook.
An Anglican Church serving the communities of Drybrook, Brierley, Steam Mills, Bailey Lane End, Ruardean Hill and Harrow Hill in the Forest of Dean. Website…
The Cathedral of the Forest in Newland
They also know All Saints Church in Newland as The Cathedral of the Forest, which dates back to the 1200s. This historic church is home to the Miners Brass, a symbol of the Royal Forest of Dean.
King John appointed the first rector in 1216 in a small church building, but over the next two centuries, it grew into its current form.
Holy Jesus Church, Lydbrook
One of two churches in the village of Lydbrook is Holy Jesus Church, which dates back to 1850. Although the church is relatively young, the architect designed and built it in the Decorated Gothic style of the late 13th and 14th centuries. The story behind the design and construction is fascinating. They directed a lot of criticism at the designer.
The church tower is 80 feet tall; the saddleback-style roof is an unusual feature for the area. Like most churches, it has meaningful stained-glass windows. The most significant thing in Holy Jesus Church is the East Window. The east window commemorates the Thomas family, who founded the South Wales steel industry and benefited local iron ore miners. This Anglican place of worship holds regular services.