A guide to the Forest Of Dean Churches, including the diverse religious architecture in the area. There are new and old churches and chapels in many of the settlements of the area. There certainly is an array of churches to visit in the forest and the nearby Wye Valley. Many are open for visitors to have a mooch around and regular services on a Sunday. For those that you cannot visit inside, many have lovely churchyards for visitors to view the buildings from the exterior.
Forest Of Dean Churches
There are lots of picturesque churches through the towns and villages of the Forest Of Dean. To find out more about churches in Gloucestershire, our site has further details. Also worth a visit is Gloucester Cathedral, a fantastic building with 1000 years of history.
Holy Trinity Church Drybrook
Based at the northern gateway to the Forest of Dean, The 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, the building grew into the current form. More about All Saints’ Church.
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 build it in the Decorated Gothic style of the late 13th and 14th centuries. The story behind the design and construction is fascinating. They aimed lots of criticism at the designer.
The church tower is 80 feet in height, the saddleback style roof is an unusual feature for the local area. As with most churches, they have meaningful stained-glass windows. The most significant in Holy Jesus Church is the East Window. The east window commemorates the Thomas family who founded the South Wales Steel Industry, benefiting local iron ore miners. The denomination of this place of worship is for the Church of England and regular services happen here.