GloucestershireBISLEYAllSaints(philiphallingCC-BY-SA2.0)2 PhilipHalling

All Saints

The church is nationally famous for its Ascension Day 'Well Dressing' ceremony when the senior pupils from the Bisley Blue Coat School dress the wells in thanksgiving for the well restoration in 1863.

Bisley, Gloucestershire

Opening times

Open daily 9am to dusk.

Address

Parsons Lane
Bisley
Gloucestershire
GL6 7BB

Thomas Keble was vicar of Bisley from 1827-1873. He improved the physical, moral, and spiritual welfare of his people, and was responsible for the building of a number of churches including St Bartholomew Oakridge, Christ Church Chalford, St John the Baptist France Lynch and the restoration of All Saints.

All Saints really is the Mother Church of those 'Oxford Movement' churches built and rebuilt by Revd Thomas.

It was Thomas junior who uncovered the mystery of the legend of the 'Bisley Boy'. This was the local lad who was substituted for the young Princess Elizabeth who was staying in Over Court next to the church. Having fallen ill, after her death she was buried in the garden and the boy grew up to become Elizabeth I, explaining why she never married and supplied an heir and always appeared with whitened face to disguise a male beard!

  • Spectacular stained glass

  • Social heritage stories

  • National heritage here

  • Magnificent memorials

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Enchanting atmosphere

  • Captivating architecture

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Parking within 250m

  • On street parking at church

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Dog friendly

  • Accessible toilets nearby

  • Church of England

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Mary of the Angels

Brownshill, Gloucestershire

The chapel is idyllically sited overlooking the Toadmoor Valley, the site is made more poignant by the run of identically sized memorial crosses which mark the graves of Bertha and Katherine and a number of local Catholic priests, monks and laymen and women.

St Mary the Virgin

Painswick, Gloucestershire

A Grade I listed church set in a churchyard of table top tombs surrounded by 99 yew trees.