Historic churches · South East England
Reading Minster
In or near Sonning.
Reading Minster — church in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- Reading · 0.5 km
- Free entry
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Reading Minster, the nearest railway station is Reading, located 0.5 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is RG1 2HX, and entry to the church is free.
About
Reading Minster is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1150. Built in the Gothic architecture style. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Affiliated with Anglicanism. Wikidata describes it as: "church in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK". Coordinates: 51.4545°, -0.9736°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Reading Minster, or the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin, is the oldest ecclesiastical foundation in the town of Reading, Berkshire, England. Although eclipsed in importance by the later Reading Abbey, Reading Minster regained its status after the destruction of the Abbey and is now an Anglican parish church. The minster gives its name to the street of St Mary's Butts, on which it stands. The Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin should not be mistaken for the similarly named St Mary's Church, Castle Street, which is only a few yards away.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
Reading Minster serves as a sacred space for prayer and reflection within the community. It offers regular Eucharistic services and aims to support those in need while providing a welcoming environment for all visitors.
From the Wikipedia article
Reading Minster, or the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin, is the oldest ecclesiastical foundation in the town of Reading, Berkshire, England. Although eclipsed in importance by the later Reading Abbey, Reading Minster regained its status after the destruction of the Abbey and is now an Anglican parish church. The minster gives its name to the street of St Mary's Butts, on which it stands. The Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin should not be mistaken for the similarly named St Mary's Church, Castle Street, which is only a few yards away.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
dates to 1616]] According to unverified tradition, Saint Birinus founded a small chapel on the site of Reading Minster in the 7th century. Silver coins of the 9th century have been found in the churchyard, dating back to the period when Kings Ethelred and Alfred of Wessex were fighting the Danes at Reading, and also the era in which Reading supplanted Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester) as the local centre of importance. In 979, Queen Ælfthryth, wife of King Edgar of England, founded a royal nunnery on the site as an act of repentance for the murder of her stepson, King Edward the Martyr. All that remains of this nunnery is a rounded Saxon door in the church, most likely used by the nuns to…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.4545, -0.9736
- District
- Reading
- Parish
- Reading, unparished area
- Postcode
- RG1 2HX
- Parliamentary constituency
- Reading Central
- Established
- 1150
- Nearest railway station
- Reading — 0.5 km
- Opening
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am – 1pm
- Official site
- www.readingminster.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q7300527 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Reading Minster (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Reading Minster, church tower.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Reading Minster?
- Reading Minster is in South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode RG1 2HX), in the parish of Reading, unparished area.
- What is Reading Minster?
- Reading Minster — church in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- How do I get to Reading Minster?
- The nearest railway station is Reading, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode RG1 2HX.
- When was Reading Minster built?
- Built or established in 1150.
- Is Reading Minster a listed building?
- Reading Minster is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
- Is Reading Minster free to visit?
- Yes, Reading Minster is free to enter.
- How do I get to Reading Minster?
- The nearest railway station is Reading, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode RG1 2HX.