Dore Abbey

Welcome to Dore Abbey our parish church, which was once part of a Cistercian monastery founded in 1147. Please visit our website for more details. The Abbey holds a very special place in the heart of our community, used regularly for Christian worship as well as concerts and the village fete! History and faith meet and we find connection and belonging. Outside, there's a simple grass labyrinth mown in the cloisters and picnic tables in the old orchard. We're part of the Quiet Garden movement. No services or events during January and February... it's too cold!

Cockyard Mission Hall

The Mission Hall is part of the Parish of Abbeydore (Holy Trinity & St Mary's Abbeydore - Dore Abbey - www.doreabbey.org.uk) in the Ewyas Harold Group of Parishes.

Cockyard Mission Hall was a blacksmith’s forge and shop until the occupant, Mr Hancocks, moved his business to Hungerford shortly after the end of the First World War.

All services can be found on our Deanery website here

Bacton: St Faith

Bacton Church, dedicated to Saint Faith, is a hidden treasure house:

1) Bacton Church owns the internationally famous, unique, exquisite and priceless Bacton Altar Cloth, copy in Church – the only surviving dress material worn by Queen Elizabeth I and the only piece anywhere in the world from the period with direct embroidery on such valuable cloth: silver, gold, dyes from Mexico and India. All the motifs mean something. Look for the minuscule fisherman in his boat. It was most likely sent here in memory of Blanche Parry with the permission of the Queen herself.

2) On the Blanche Parry Monument, you can see the first depiction of Queen Elizabeth as Gloriana, pre-dating all the portraits showing this. It was commissioned by Blanche Parry, Queen Elizabeth I’s Confidante, whose family are buried here.

3) The Choir Stalls are 15th century, paid for by Blanche’s father or grandfather – look for the Parry coat-of-arms carved in front of the Minister’s seat. They probably matched the Rood Screen, long gone but the steps survive in the wall.

4) The rare pre-Reformation Chalice and Paten are kept in Hereford Cathedral’s Treasury for safety but you can see photographs of them.

5) At the back of the Church are very, very rare depictions of coloured military ribbon decorations, mainly from World War I, carved on wall tablets.

Also the stained-glass windows are lovely – look for the one commemorating St. Faith over the vestry door.

So, this lovely Church, overlooking the Golden Valley, is well-worth a visit. As you leave, notice the Hall next door which is on the site of the Medieval Ale-house – and in times past the car park was where the Maypole was erected for fun on May Day.

St Michael's, Ewyas Harold

Kentchurch: St Mary

Kilpeck: St Mary & St David

St. Devereux: St Dubricius

Walterstone: St Mary

The church is open every day and visitors are very welcome. There is an information leaflet available to help you find the points of interest; please take it with you as a souvenir of your visit. A display on the west wall records our recent project to refurbish and rehang the bells. A stamp is available for pilgrims travelling the Golden Valley Pilgrim Way.

There are services and other events at the church every two months or so and everyone is welcome to join in whether they live locally or are visiting the area.

Please do not send mail to the church. Use the contact details on this website.

Wormbridge: St Peter