All Saints
Forden, Powys
This church is on the edge of woodland off a lane on the eastern slopes of Long Mountain, looking across the Wales/England border to the Long Mynd, south of Shrewsbury.
A unique church, built as one of a few immediately after the Great Fire of London. It is Red Brick built with a small clock tower, having interesting 'gargoyles' over the west entrance. The church was built as a chapel of ease, and subsequently appointed the parish church, and now is the centre of the Stiperstones benefice. Its churchyard is closed but houses many interesting marked graves. Inside is a very old carved pulpit transferred from nearby Westbury church.
The Maidens Garlands, of which there are seven, are displayed how they would have been displayed over the grave of a 'bride to be' who died before her marriage. These date from the 1790s and are being allowed to gradually age and decompose. The inside of the church is plain, but has superb roof vaulting beams, exposed after a refurbishment removed a domed ceiling in the early 1900s.