St Giles' Church, Reading facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Giles' Church |
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The tower of St Giles' Church
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 St Giles' Church
Location in Reading Central
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| 51°27′3.54″N 0°58′13.45″W / 51.4509833°N 0.9704028°W | |
| Location | Reading |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Traditional Catholic |
| Website | sgilesreading.org.uk |
| History | |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | St Giles |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Berkshire |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
St Giles' Church is an old and important church in Reading, England. It's a Church of England parish church, which means it serves the local community.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
St Giles' Church is one of the oldest churches in Reading. It was one of the first three parish churches in the town during the Middle Ages. The other two were St Mary's and St Laurence's. You can find St Giles' on Southampton Street, just outside the town centre. It's in the part of Reading that is south of the River Kennet.
How the Church Began
The first church building was put up in the 12th century. It was built for people living south of the River Kennet. They found it hard to get to St Mary's Church when the river flooded in winter. The church's parish covered the southern part of medieval Reading. It also included a small village called Whitley, which was outside the town back then.
In 1191, Pope Clement III gave the church to Reading Abbey. For many years, the church was a place of sanctuary. This meant that people seeking safety could go there. In 1539, the priest of St Giles', John Eynon, was found guilty of a serious crime against the King. He was punished in front of the abbey gateway, along with the abbot of Reading Abbey, Hugh Cook Faringdon.
The English Civil War
During the English Civil War, Reading was under attack. The King's soldiers used the church tower as a place to put their guns. This meant the tower was attacked by the other side's artillery. In 1643, the top part of the tower and its spire were destroyed. After the war ended, the church was repaired.
Later Events
Soldiers who died in the Battle of Reading (1688) are buried here. This battle happened during the Glorious Revolution, when the Dutch invaded England.
In 1798, some people disagreed with how things were done at St Giles' Church. They left and started a new chapel. This chapel was built in Castle Street, where Reading's old prison used to be. It later became the Church of St Mary, Castle Street.
Rebuilding the Church
The original medieval church was quite small. In 1872, it was rebuilt by James Piers St Aubyn. He used an Early English style for the new church. Only the 13th-century aisle walls and the Perpendicular style west tower were kept from the old building. A new stone steeple was added in 1873. The outside of the church is made of flint, and the roof has tiles. St Giles' Church is now a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
St Giles' Today
The main priest, called the Rector, at St Giles' in Reading is David Harris. He is from Canada.
The church follows the Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England. This means they have certain beliefs and ways of doing things. For example, they do not agree with women becoming priests. Because of this, St Giles' is part of a group called Forward in Faith. They also receive special guidance from the Bishop of Oswestry.
