Bilson Mission Room Exhibition

When Bilson Mission Rooms finally closed its doors in 2018 it had served the local community for over 130 years. This much-loved local institution began its life providing church services in a tent in the woods, serving the Gypsies and Travellers who were camped near-by. After a corrugated iron ‘chapel’ was built for its services, it moved to Bilson Green at the edge of Cinderford as ministry to the towns rapidly expanding population.

For the past 12 months ‘The Tin Chapel at the Edge of Town’ project has been working with the Bilson community to record their memories of the Mission, its Sunday school, and the role it played in the life of Cinderford.

This new exhibition at the Dean Heritage Centre showcases the work of the project and tells the remarkable story of the Bilson Mission, its origins, and the many people who made it such an important centre for the social and spiritual life of the Bilson neighbourhood. The exhibition includes unique artefacts from the Mission, photographs of early Cinderford, and the ‘digital story’ films made by the community during the project, and work produced by pupils at Forest High School.

The project is a University of Gloucestershire Voices from the Forest initiative with support from Cinderford Town Council and Historic England’s Everyday Heritage scheme.