Cemetery Chapel
Clearwell, Gloucestershire
Clearwell Cemetery (Mortuary) Chapel was designed by the renowned Gothic Revival architect John Middleton, and was opened in 1867.
Before the 19th century, the Royal demesne land of the Forest of Dean was extra parochial and had no churches. Missions to the villages of the Forest were established by the some churches on the outskirts of the Forest. In 1890 services were held in Broadwell school and in 1891 an iron mission church, dedicated to the Good Shepherd, paid for by voluntary contributions, was erected next to the school. It was replaced by a permanent church in 1938.
The old iron building was retained as a church hall. Now aptly named the Evergreen Hall, it is in regular use for community events. The Good Shepherd is a simple stone building, much loved by its worshippers who still have strong links to its mission history.