LAUNCH EVENT: The Tin Chapel at the Edge of Town

Bilson Mission Church has been at the heart of the Bilson neighbourhood in Cinderford for more than 130 years. It closed its doors for the last time in 2018. Now, Voices from the Forest is setting out to record the history of this building and the people it served. And we're launching our new project, "The Tin Chapel at the Edge of Town" this September during Heritage Open Days week.

Join us at St Stephen's Church on Saturday 17th September  to hear about the fascinating early history of the Mission and its origins as a 'Gypsy Chapel'; hear from descendants of those who helped set up and run the Mission; and share your own memories of the chapel and school room, the services there and the people. ​You can also hear about the project's plans and how you can get involved.

If you have photos, documents or objects associated with the Mission and your connection with it please bring them along too as we would love to see them!   

The project will be drawing on archival research, but also, crucially, as it gets to work we'll be working with local people to record their own accounts of the Mission to be shared online and stored for posterity in the Dean Heritage Centre. All of this, working with the local community, will be leading up to a local exhibition event in Summer 2023.

​See you at St Stephen's!

Heritage Open Day: The Tin Chapel at the Edge of Town
St Stephen's Church, Belle Vue Road, Cinderford, GL142AA
Saturday 17th September
10am-4pm