Church of the Good Shepherd, Oreston

The Church of the Good Shepherd was originally a Fisherman’s mission church founded over 150 years ago. It became a daughter church within the parish of St Mary & All Saints about 100 years ago when a chancel was added, unusually, at the west end.

In recent years it has enjoyed successful interior renovation, including new floor, chairs and storage space. The church has its own adjacent church hall.

SERVICES

Currently, Sunday services are not regularly held here. 

COMMUNITY

HALL BOOKINGS

Please contact: Neil Broom Email Neil

LOCATION

HISTORY

Good Shepherd is a small, dedicated place of worship located on the South-West coastal path in the ‘village’ of Oreston. It was originally built as a seafarers mission and used as a centre for community gathering and as a resting stop for animals being shipped via the river to and from Cattedown and Plymouth. Possibly as a consequence of its initial purpose, the church is orientated on a roughly North-South, rather than an East-West axis, with the chancel at the North end of the building. The building was licensed for public worship by the Bishop of Exeter in 1858, following a petition from the Vicar of Plymstock to facilitate worship for the community of 1200 residents of Oreston. The chancel was added to the original building and dedicated in 1886. The first Saint’s Day celebration at Good Shepherd was Candlemas in 1887. At present, there is no weekly service at Good Shepherd, although it is often used for the Sunday afternoon informal services.