St Giles' Church, Reading facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Giles' Church |
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St Giles' Church from south-west
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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 of England parish church in the town of Reading, England. It is a place where people have worshipped for many centuries.
Contents
A Look Back: History of St Giles' Church
St Giles' was one of the three main churches in medieval Reading. The other two were St Mary's and St Laurence's. This church is located on Southampton Street, just outside the town centre. It served the part of Reading that was south of the River Kennet.
Building the First Church
The first church was built in the 12th century. It was needed because people living south of the River Kennet found it hard to reach St Mary's Church. This was especially true during winter when the river often flooded. The church's parish included the southern part of Reading and the small village of Whitley.
In 1191, Pope Clement III gave the church to Reading Abbey. For a long time, the church had the special right of sanctuary. This meant that people seeking safety could go there and be protected from arrest. In 1539, the priest of St Giles', John Eynon, faced serious consequences. He was executed along with Hugh Cook Faringdon, who was the abbot of Reading Abbey.
The Church During Wartime
During the English Civil War, the church tower was used by the King's soldiers. They used it as a platform for their guns when Parliamentarian forces attacked Reading. Because of this, the tower was hit by enemy artillery. In 1643, the top part of the tower, including its spire, was destroyed. After the war ended, the church was repaired.
Soldiers who died in the Battle of Reading (1688) are buried here. This battle happened during the Dutch invasion of England, which was part of the Glorious Revolution.
Changes and Rebuilding
In 1798, some members of the church disagreed and left. They started a new chapel in Castle Street. This chapel later became the Church of St Mary, Castle Street.
In 1872, the original small medieval church was rebuilt. The architect, James Piers St Aubyn, designed it in the Early English style. Only the 13th-century aisle walls and the Perpendicular style west tower were kept. A new ashlar steeple was added in 1873. The outside of the church is made of flint, and the roof has tiles. Today, St Giles' Church is a Grade II listed building, meaning it is an important historical building.
St Giles' Church Today
The main priest, called the Rector, of 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 it has some practices similar to the Roman Catholic Church. St Giles' does not support the idea of women becoming priests. Because of this, it is part of an organization called Forward in Faith. It also gets special guidance from the Bishop of Oswestry.
