This website is a celebration of Gloucestershire’s fine and ancient Christian tradition, a heritage that most of us take for granted but one which faces a real threat. From quiet, ancient churches in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds to the Severnside churches in verdant river meadows, majestic establishments at Gloucester and Tewkesbury to simple miners chapels in the Forest of Dean some of our county’s finest treasures and most ancient heritage are in, and cared for by, churches.

We’re designing a series of walks – some short, some long, some real journeys – that explore this heritage in the wider context of one our county’s other great treasures: its beautiful countryside.

Wherever possible we have designed our walks for ease of access, so that all may enjoy them. Our aim is that the next time you go for a walk in the countryside you will not just pass-by churches but that they will form a part of your walk as both a destination and an enrichment.

We also hope to increase awareness of the dangers facing many ancient churches, from damage caused by age and weathering to the more human dangers of neglect, vandalism and theft.