Glory

Welcome to our State Heritage site from 1841, including the oldest cemetery and first church in McLaren Vale. Be guided around the site alongside the current custodian and artist-in-residence, with 8 generations of family connection to the site and township. Hope Lovelock Deane is Curator of The Botanical Cemetery (formerly the Congregational Cemetery), an active cemetery, including The Culture Garden community gardening project.

The Culture Garden project is transforming this public place into a more welcoming garden environment, telling stories of the waves of settlement of the area via the plantings. Hope is also artist-in-residence in the chapel, working on the research phase of an interactive artwork that will result in an ongoing “Museum of love” (of place, of the land, of this valley) for The Vale. Audio tours and other artworks are also in development.

This tour outlines the ecological and cultural regeneration of this community asset since November 2021, on Meyunna country; it is a privately owned public place offering creative opportunities for connection with the spirit of the land enlivening this place we are a part of (visitors too), self & community…including seasonal offerings and events.

And perhaps leave time to grab a glass of wine in the “big church” in front of our chapel afterwards (or sample their great local food)…it is part of the original churchyard site, in the heart of what was then the village of Gloucester.

Tours are available Fridays 4-5pm (and also by request glorymclarenvale@gmail.com ).

After registering, at the time of your tour please meet outside The Pioneer Chapel entrance, the smaller one room church (behind the “big church” on Main Rd / Sabella cellar door & Joe’s restaurant).