The answer is it depends on the time !

In the timeframe you are researching the Forest was "extra parocial" i.e. no Parish church, so if the family lived in the EP area then they might travel/walk to whichever Church / minister they "trusted" :-)

Littledean / Flaxley / Abenhall are all convenient for the East Dean Extra Parocial area

for map see .. http://www.forest-of-dean.net/joomla/the-forest-of-dean/maps-of-the-forest ( map of early parishes)