St Pauls church in Parkend was built by Rev. Henry Poole in 1822 to serve a much wider area than Parkend alone. Before the New Road, from Lydney to Parkend and beyond was built in the early 1900’s, the track we have reached was a good route from Whitecroft to St Pauls.

Whitecroft Station is ½ mile to our right and St Pauls is a ¾ mile walk to the left. At this point 150 years ago we may have witnessed wedding parties passing by, families christening a child or the more sombre site of a funeral party slowly moving towards the church. Therefore, if you are tracing ancestors who lived in Whitecroft, the records of St Paul’s Parkend may be of help in your search.

Bi-Centenary, May 2022

St Paul’s Church, was officially consecrated in May, 1822. As well as being a place of worship, the church regularly plays host to the Royal Forest of Dean Orchestra. It has a set of tubular bells that are rung occasionally and a separate conventional bell that faithfully chimes the hours of the day.

Later in the walk it is possible to see the tower of the church nestled in the trees.