Catholic Church of St Mary

The Catholic Church of St Mary sits quietly in Coalbrookdale, a town better known for its industrial heritage than its religious architecture. It's a proper Victorian church, solid and unpretentious, with that particular blend of red brick and stone that you find throughout the Shropshire valleys. The interior is modest but dignified - the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which counts for something.

This isn't a church you'd trek across the country for, but if you're already in Coalbrookdale exploring the Ironbridge Gorge museums or rambling through the surrounding hills, it's worth stepping inside. The building tells you something about the area's 19th-century Catholic community - workers and their families who needed a place to worship. There's an honesty to it that beats the overwrought gothic you'll find elsewhere.

You'll want maybe twenty minutes here, half an hour if you're the type to sit quietly in the pews. The churchyard offers a bit of peace if nothing else. Access and opening times aren't always straightforward with smaller churches - your best bet is ringing ahead or checking the door when you visit.

If you're camping nearby - Irongorge Camping sits just a couple of miles away, and Hay & Hedgerow Glamping offers something more comfortable - St Mary works as a gentle break between walking the gorge trails. It's a modest draw, but an authentic one.